The Center for Connected Multimodal Mobility (C2M2) would like to thank Dr. Judith Mwakalonge, South Carolina State University for taking part in our Distinguished Speaker Series on October 9th, 2020.
Seminar Title
Personal Electric Mobility Devices (PEMDs): Then, Now, and the Future
Seminar Abstract
Personal electric mobility devices (PEMDs), like a wheelchair, were originally developed to assist the elderly and people with disabilities to improve on their mobility needs. Over time, the design, features, and application of these devices have been modified and upgraded. The electric scooter or hoverboard is a type of personal mobility device which is an essential mode of transportation and a substitute for pedestrians walking. However, PEMDs may have a detrimental effect on pedestrians maneuvering while running on a walkway since they are much faster compared to pedestrians. In addition, appropriate policy related to the use of PEMDs on public infrastructure is not yet thoroughly acknowledged. In this research, the team at SCSU used a hoverboard to investigate the impact of PEMDs on pedestrians’ walking speed, travel time, and travel delay. Also, the team conducted a review of several rules, regulations, and legislative issues from different sources like the government website and journal articles regarding the operation of PEMDs on roadways or walkways. The talk will present the results of the review, experiments, and recommendations.
Speaker Bio
Judith Mwakalonge is an associate professor of Transportation Engineering in the Department of Engineering at South Carolina State University. Her research interests mainly focused on developing solutions for improving the safety and efficiency of transportation systems. Specifically, her main research focus includes transportation safety and operations, travel demand modeling and simulation, the impact of distracted biking/walking on transportation safety, and smart mobile applications in transportation. She received her Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Tennessee Technological University (TTU).