eMotion for the Planet: Affective Affordances and Engagement with Climate-Friendly Transport.

This project will pioneer the application of affective ecological psychology to study how emotional states dynamically shape the perception of action possibilities (affordances) when people use climate-friendly, e-scooter, transport. No existing research has systematically examined how affective states influence affordance perception in navigation, despite critical safety challenges: UK data shows e-scooter casualty rates are three times higher than cycling, with 22% of collisions being single-vehicle incidents caused by rider error. Rooted in Gibsonian ecological psychology and Withagen's affective framework, this research investigates how emotional factors - fear of potential accidents, confidence and anxiety levels - modulate riders' responsiveness to affordances. An innovative mixed-methods approach will include participant co-design of representative experimental protocols, followed by two studies: a comparative study examining perception-action dynamics between affect levels, and an intervention study testing equipment modifications. Real-world navigation tasks, eye-tracking technology, and targeted interventions will reveal how affective profiles influence obstacle navigation and decision-making. The findings will directly inform policy development for the UK Department of Transport and the EU 's Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy by providing evidence-based design principles that promote e-scooter usage as a viable and safer sustainable transport mode. Theoretically, this project extends the affordance-based control approach by incorporating the emotional dimensions of how individuals perceive and act upon affordances. This research transforms theoretical understanding while delivering practical solutions for accelerating Europe's climate-friendly transport transition.