Who’d have thought it? Scooters are officially part of the urban transportation solution

Data recently published by the US National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) reveal that shared electric scooters are now the true star of micromobility in cities: since their popularity took off last year, they have logged up 38.5 million trips throughout the United States, making them almost as well-liked as bicycles, and most importantly, they have contributed to practically doubling (45.8%) the number of micromobility trips. Increasingly, electric scooters one of the most obvious ways to solve a significant part of the problem of urban transport, while at the same time making cities safer.

The NACTO report leaves little room for argument: despite the restrictions imposed in many cities during the introductory phase, scooters have greatly increased in popularity, improving perceptions of micromobility and use levels, which is important in reducing dependence on cars. Offering the inhabitants of cities alternatives for short journeys encourages people not to use their cars and instead opt for a combination of possibilities that, in many cases, includes public transport.

The experience of pioneer cities provides useful feedback for others exploring transportation alternatives. Most US cities, despite having been designed around the car, have seen an explosion in the use of shared bicycles (electric or not) and scooters –which have a higher accident rate — probably because most people have never tried them before, as well as due to an absence of clear planning about where they can best be used. European cities, which tend to have smaller city centers with narrower streets, offer a better environment for scooters.

Fewer scooters are now being left lying in the middle of sidewalks, blocking the way, while competition among providers is fierce, leading them to offer better service and to adhere to the rules laid down by municipal authorities.

Skepticism is to be expected during the initial phases of adoption of any technology, with naysayers underestimating its impact, ridiculing it or posing supposedly insurmountable problems. A year on after the first cities adopted their use in the United States, electric scooters have shown they’re not an overgrown children’s toy and encourage healthier and cleaner mobility, while helping generate a more sustainable transportation culture. Doubling the number of micromobility trips is an important milestone, even more so in the United States, and offers huge potential to urban planners. Those who dismissed scooters as a passing fad were just flat wrong.

Applying a little political will to establish the right priorities can produce significant benefits. Needless to say, electric scooters are not going to meet everybody’s transportation needs. But with the right planning, they could play a significant role in the much-needed task of rethinking our cities.

(En espa?ol, aquí)

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