Ride the wave of the future

Welcome back to Mobility Insights.

In recent years, we have seen a surge in interest and investment in small, sustainable modes of transportation such as e-bikes and scooters. From bustling city streets to quiet suburban neighbourhoods, people all around the world are embracing micromobility as a convenient, eco-friendly way to get around. But why has it become such a hot topic? Whether you're a seasoned rider or just curious about this exciting new frontier, let's dive in a discover the power of small together!

Switched to bicycles

Since the start of 2020, it was clear the number of kilometres travelled decreased for all modes of transport, except walking. Cities such as Stockholm and London reported reductions in public transport usage of between 60-75% at various stages of the pandemic. In The Netherlands the number of driven kilometres on the road decreased by 44% in the first lockdown and 40% of the previous public transport users in China have switched to private car use.?

Cities have responded to the challenge of gridlock and increasing car usage by making biking a more attractive option. In many European cities, this has involved implementing biking-friendly infrastructure and other related programs.

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Did you know that the world counts 130 Bicycle Mayors? In 2022, Intertraffic had the pleasure to get on the road with three mayors who took us on their biking journey to Utrecht, Bogota and Dublin. These mayors represent three different cities, each with their own unique challenges and triumphs when it comes to promoting cycling as a sustainable and enjoyable form of transportation.

'My main focus is to promote cycling among women and children. Dublin is very well known for writers. During the St. Patrick’s Parade in 2019 in our project called "Joyce-Cycle", we combined famous writers promoting cycling. People dressed up as characters or we had books on our backs.' - Donna Cooney, Bicycle Mayor in Dublin, Ireland

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A win for e-scooters... or is it?

Electric scooters took the world of micromobility by storm during the last decade by introducing something approaching a revolution in the territory of the individual commute, creating a whole new breed of Private Transportation Vehicles (PTVs). Their rapid expansion in popularity caught most the countries unawares, as many were struggling with passing new traffic rules and legislation in order to organize ridership of these vehicles without hindering the benefits of their use.

They represent a viable mode of sustainable transport, particularly for European Cities, as most are founded on their historic architecture, and hence have a permanent task to make the smartest and best use of the available space.

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However, in Paris, the residents have voted in favour of banning retail electric scooters from the the French capital.

In recent years, Paris has introduced a variety of measures aimed at reducing the city’s dependence on private cars and boosting the appeal of other modes of travel. Bike lanes, subsidized e-bike rentals, improved public transportation and e-scooter rentals have all been part of that campaign.

However, between 2021 and 2022, the number of crashes involving “motorized personal transport devices” – which includes e-scooters, gyropods and motorized skateboards – rose by nearly a third, to 516 accidents, resulting in three deaths, police said.

Paris isn’t the only European city to be grappling with e-scooters. Barcelona was an early champion, but it has partially banned them in historic parts of the city since 2016. In London, privately owned e-scooters remain illegal for use on public roads, but public trials have been running with three operators since mid-2021.

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Hot topics this month you don't want to miss:

To give you complete knowledge on mobility overview, we also list below all the latest news on the sector from Intertraffic.

• Ebube George Ebisike?discusses the State of the African Diaspora’s 25 designated Smart Cities that will shape Africa's modernisation.
• How do we ensure successful new parking policies implementation without discouraging people from visiting certain areas of the city?
• A market segment of one: mobility expert Bob McQueen examines the data behind the concept of trip purpose.

Thanks for reading. Stay tuned for the next edition of Mobility Insights.

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