New Research Finds Every Rental E-Scooter Contributes Over CDN $11,000 to Local Economies in Canada Each Year

• Rental e-scooter riders have been responsible for injecting an estimated $13 million a year into Calgary’s local economy, according to new research from operator Neuron Mobility
• According to the findings, 70% of journeys result in a purchase at a local business with an average spend of $27 per trip and $11,300 per e-scooter annually
• Research conducted in partnership with local chambers of commerce shows that the majority of local businesses believe that Neuron e-scooters have had a positive impact on the local economy
• The report produced findings via partnership with local business organizations, data from Neuron’s operations, and surveys of riders and the broader community
• E-scooters are providing both residents and visitors with a sustainable and convenient way to get to the places they love, with rider data showing hot spots for rides include main streets, shopping centres and popular dining spots

CALGARY, AB –/COMMUNITYWIRE/– In conjunction with Small Business Week, leading e-scooter operator Neuron Mobility has released new research highlighting the economic benefits rental e-scooters are having on towns and cities in Canada. During their trips, riders cumulatively spend $26 million a year across the six locations where Neuron operates in Canada, including Airdrie, Calgary, Lethbridge, Ottawa, Red Deer and Vernon. Calgary’s economy alone sees an injection of $13 million a year.

According to the findings, each e-scooter contributes $11,300 to local economies a year. For the first time, the research goes deeper to determine that 57% of riders spent more than $10 on their most recent trip, with an average of $27 per trip. The data comes from a newly launched Prosperity Report 2022 (Canada) from the operator titled Shared Rides, Shared Wealth, which outlines the positive impact rental e-scooter programs are having on local economies in Canada.

Neuron’s rider surveys, which were carried out in September this year and included over 2,600 responses from the six cities, demonstrate that seven in 10 e-scooter journeys in Canada result in a purchase from a local business. Many trips (12%) wouldn’t have happened at all if the e-scooters weren’t available, meaning local businesses would have missed out on valuable sales. Asked where they spend money during their e-scooter trips, 31% said they made purchases at shopping venues, 33% at a restaurant or cafe, and 18% at a recreational venue like a gym or a local event.

Most riders said they used e-scooters for leisure and recreation (81%), while many also made purposeful journeys like commuting to work or school (35%), running errands such as shopping (26%), and connecting to public transport (15%).

The report considered how rental e-scooters have helped to make cities more livable and attractive to inward investment. The vast majority of riders surveyed (98%) believe Neuron’s e-scooters have benefited their city and also improved mobility, air quality and congestion.

Local business owners also shared their views on rental e-scooters through surveys commissioned by a number of Chambers of Commerce. Nearly nine in 10 respondents (88%) agreed that rental e-scooters make it easier for locals and visitors to visit local businesses and activities. More than eight in 10 (81%) agreed that e-scooter programs have had a positive impact on the local economy, while 65% felt that e-scooters are making cities more attractive for tourists.

In Canada, e-scooters are proving to be an essential part of the transport mix, helping to fill first- and last-mile gaps in the wider public transport network. By running 24/7 in most cities, they are also helping to boost the night-time economy and support night-shift workers. For instance, 26% of e-scooter trips that start and end at Red Deer Regional Hospital happen between 10pm and 6am.

Another key area where rental e-scooters are supporting local economies is through working with local business networks to enhance visitor experiences and improve access to key tourist and leisure destinations. In Calgary, Neuron has been working closely with the organizers of large-scale events to ensure spikes in demand are well managed by setting up temporary no-riding, no-parking and slow zones as well as preferred parking locations specific to the event.

For example, trips to and from the 2022 Calgary Stampede venue made up 26% of all trips in the city during the 10-day event, and there were twice as many trips during the two hours after the event, compared with the same hours in the 10 days prior. Neuron e-scooters help thousands of people to get to such events without taking their cars and minimize disruption to the wider community.

Neuron is also committed to providing long-term and future-proof employment opportunities for the communities it operates in, helping local staff to upskill and gain vital experience in a growing industry and creating hundreds of job opportunities, all at certified Living Wage levels in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario.

Neuron is calling on other operators to do more to fulfill their roles as key contributors to local economies. As it continues to expand in Canada, Neuron has committed to a continued focus on building strong partnerships with local business networks and city stakeholders as well as enhancing economic opportunities for local communities.

Ankush Karwal, Head of Market for Neuron in Canada said: “Our vision has always been to partner with Canadian cities to help them build a more prosperous and sustainable future. We’re heartened that our new report clearly demonstrates we’re on the right track. The data shows our e-scooters are helping to boost local economies and revive main streets in Canada, which is certainly welcome, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“However, our work doesn’t stop there and we are committed to helping our cities thrive in the long term. Neuron’s e-scooters have helped make cities more livable too, providing much needed first-and last-mile transport options, enhancing local public transport networks and helping to keep cities running 24/7 by providing essential transport to those working night shifts.

“As we continue to expand and develop new partnerships, we’re delighted that the vast majority of our riders – plus an increasing number of local businesses and venues – are recognizing and benefiting from the positive impacts micromobility has on the economy.”

Cyndi Bester, CEO, Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce said: “Since their launch earlier this year, we have noticed the positive impact Neuron e-scooters have had on businesses in Lethbridge. We are very pleased to see those impacts quantified, supporting our impressions of Neuron’s impacts, especially after the past two and a half years of a pandemic.

“Neuron has been a welcome addition to Lethbridge’s economy and we look forward to having Neuron continue to support our local business community.”

Scott Robinson, CEO, Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce said: “The results of this survey confirm that Neuron e-scooters are helping Red Deerians access and support local Red Deer businesses.

“The Neuron e-scooter program introduced to Red Deer in 2021 has made a big impact on citizen mobility and we are proud they are a Chamber member making a difference for local businesses.”

Dan Proulx, General Manager, Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce said: “The Greater Vernon Chamber has been advocating for businesses for over 120 years. We’re very pleased with the positive impact Neuron’s e-scooters have had on our members’ businesses.

“Neuron’s e-scooters have been a welcome addition to Vernon, as they enable riders to access local businesses more easily and in a sustainable manner. We look forward to Neuron’s continued support of businesses in Vernon.”

About Neuron Mobility
Neuron, Canada’s fastest-growing e-scooter operator, differentiates by being the best partner to cities while also leading the industry when it comes to safety and sustainable operations. Founded in Singapore in 2016, the company has introduced an impressive number of industry world firsts and pioneering innovations including e-scooter battery swapping, geofencing control and integrated helmets. Neuron announced its arrival into Canada in 2021 and has since expanded its operations to six Canadian markets including Ottawa, Calgary, Red Deer, Vernon, Lethbridge and Airdrie. Neuron is also the leading operator in Australia and New Zealand and has operations in the United Kingdom.

For more information, visit: https://rideneuron.com

Contacts

For Media Enquiries
Ryan McKenna
ryan.mckenna@FHhighroad.com
647.381.0448

Kanishka Punjabi
kanishka.punjabi@FHhighroad.com
647.675.2971

Zev Klymochko
Communications Manager, Neuron Canada
zev.klymochko@neuron.sg