Originally published at: https://wheelive.com/2022/12/17/the-future-for-commuting-is-micromobility/
Introduction to Micromobility
Micromobility has enormous potential for the world’s congested cities, and not just as a means of reducing traffic and greenhouse gas emissions. Micromobility vehicles are viewed by many proponents as the solution to the first- and last-mile transportation issue.
What is micromobility?
Transport by small, lightweight vehicles, such as electric scooters, electric skateboards, shared bicycles, and electric pedal-assisted bicycles, are known as micromobility. The majority of micromobility vehicles weigh less than a thousand pounds and have a motor.
But what’s most intriguing about micromobility is that it has to be viewed as a shared service. E-scooters are a fantastic illustration of a micromobility vehicle that has amassed a sizable following. As e-scooters become more popular, they are now commonplace in many American cities. While e-scooter systems can be dockless, cities are patterning them after bike-share schemes.
Mobility can be improved with scooters. They can be used by cities as a flexible and practical substitute for shorter car excursions, which are bad for the environment, cause traffic jams, and slow down other kinds of mass transit like buses and ride-hailing vehicles.
Where it’s come from and where it’s going
Micromobility can be characterized by a number of factors, including weight (less than 1100 lbs), payload capacity, powertrain (electric or human-powered), top speeds, and range.
The most productive method to consider what micromobility is and can be is in respect to the infrastructure that already exists. Micromobility refers to modes of transportation that can coexist with bicycles.
This can refer to sections along the roadside that are de facto or de jure designated as bike lanes as well as dedicated bike lanes. Think about what micromobility isn’t, on the other hand. It is inappropriate for sidewalks, which are only for use by pedestrians and certain very slow moving vehicles. Additionally, it is not appropriate for roads that are primarily used by vehicles, such as highway-capable cars and trucks.
Practically speaking, micromobility in today’s marketplaces refers to shared scooters and bikes. However, our discussions with influential figures in the business have shown that there is still plenty that can be done in terms of vehicle size, design, and capability.
Could micromobility be the future of commuting?
The environmental impact of urban transportation has decreased thanks to micromobility vehicles. In the past, getting to or from a stop for public transportation could be challenging for commuters.
That situation can be radically changed by micromobility, especially with electric options that make greater use of urban spaces and are environmentally friendly by nature.
Currently, commuter benefits are not available for transportation that uses micromobility. You still have a lot of options for getting to work, such as ridesharing, and you can reduce your monthly commute expenditures by up to $270 by doing so.
In WHEELive, we offer the top of the line scooters for you to start on your micromobility journey. Micromobility can save you a lot of time in a lot of different ways. Most of our electric scooters are easily foldable. This saves you time to find a parking space and to worry less about losing it because you can take it anywhere with you.