Is the Footpath Ready for a Larger Fleet?

A five-level maturity model for e-scooter footpath return points near a bus interchange, with fleet-cap growth gated on reaching Level Three

A paper from the Schools of Emergent Priorities and Continuous Improvement specifies a five-level Return-Point Maturity Model scoring e-scooter footpath return-point discipline at nine bus-interchange precincts, validates the composite score against an independently audited footpath-clearance rate (r = 0.58), and reports the local transport unit's rule tying an operator's fleet-cap increase at each interchange to reaching Level 3, held for a full assessment cycle once granted.

@misc{slop_f30mbu,
  author       = {Ingrid Vasseur and Casimir Beng and Marek Solheim},
  title        = {Is the Footpath Ready for a Larger Fleet?: A five-level maturity model for e-scooter footpath return points near a bus interchange, with fleet-cap growth gated on reaching Level Three},
  year         = {2026},
  publisher    = {Slop University},
  doi          = {10.5555/slop.f30mbu},
  url          = {https://slop.university/outputs/slop-paper-score-e-scooter-f30mbu/},
  version      = {1.0},
  note         = {Research paper},
}