The use of E-moped increases commute satisfaction and subjective well-being: Evidence from Shanghai, China

Increasing residents' commute satisfaction and subjective well-being contribute to a healthy, sustainable, and successful society. In this respect, transport mode choice is commonly recognized as one of the key factors associated with commute satisfaction and commuters' subjective well-being. However, few studies have investigated how e-moped, one of the most popular commute transport modes in China, shapes residents' commute satisfaction and subjective well-being, although e-moped ownership in China is extremely great. Thus, we conducted an empirical study on the impact of commuting by e-mopeds, using the survey data from eight residential communities in Shanghai. A path analysis model was established to investigate the relationships between commute characteristics (including commute distance, commute time, commute costs, transport mode choice, transport environment), socio-demographics, commute satisfaction, and subjective well-being. The model results showed that commute satisfaction positively correlated with commuters’ subjective well-being. However, the relationship between transport mode choice and commute satisfaction was demonstrated not straightforward but fully mediated by commute time and commute costs which both showed a negative impact on commute satisfaction. In this case, using active modes was revealed to lead to a happier work commute than using private cars, whereas bus riders were at the bottom of the list as expected. Surprisingly, the use of e-mopeds resulted in the second highest total effects on the increase of commute satisfaction and subjective well-being, due to less commute time and lower commute costs. Moreover, the substitution effects of e-mopeds were examined. The results indicated that bus commuters held the most possibility to shift to e-mopeds; while, it was found hard to let e-moped users alter to the other transport modes of commuters. In this context, it was reasonable to further promote the development of e-mopeds in Shanghai, and targeted practical implications were given in this study. • E-moped is a mainstream transport mode of commuting in Shanghai, China. • How e-mopeds shape commuters' subjective well-being (SWB) is analyzed. • Commuting by e-mopeds is found to associate with the most increase in SWB. • E-moped has the largest substitution effects on city bus. • A targeted strategy for the development of e-mopeds in Shanghai is given.