Brisbane study finds parking hubs drive e-mobility use more than low fares

A study conducted by the University of Queensland, Brisbane City Council, and iMove Australia has found that dedicated parking infrastructure is more effective at increasing e-mobility use than low pricing.

The eight-month research project, titled ‘Closing The Loop on First/Last Mile Transportation’, analyzed commuter behavior at Albion train station in Brisbane. Researchers tested various interventions, including the introduction of dedicated e-mobility parking hubs and $1 e-scooter and e-bike rides.

The findings revealed that adding four parking areas to the station boosted e-mobility use by 52 per cent, whereas cheap fares only resulted in a 16 per cent increase. Brisbane City Council policy and strategy principal engineer Brendan O’Keeffe noted that convenience is the primary driver for commuters, stating, “The top three things are convenience, convenience and convenience, and convenience even overrides price.”