Creating room to facilitate LEVs in urban mobility

Source: LEVERAGE

Dutch collaborative initiative, Leverage, notes that light electric vehicles such as electric scooters, microcars, and cargo bikes are becoming an increasingly visible part of Dutch urban mobility, yet they lack a standardised place on the streets. According to Marith Dieker, associate professor in mobility transition at Arnhem-Nijmegen University of Applied Sciences (HAN), providing dedicated infrastructure and clear guidelines could improve both the frequency and safety of LEV use.

Dieker believes that LEVs have the potential to make a real difference in Dutch cities, especially as urban populations grow, as a more practical alternative to a car. “Cleaner and more accessible cities—that’s what LEVs can definitely contribute to. That’s why it’s important to investigate what’s needed in terms of design, regulations, and amenities to encourage people to use them more,”.

A key concern is the fair allocation of public space for vehicles. Dieker has stated that the disproportionate amount of urban space that cars occupy should be addressed. “Look at the Han campuses, for example, and a very large portion of the space is reserved for a relatively small group of people who come by car. Reserving so much space for parked cars shouldn’t be a given,” Dieker observes.

Creating more space for LEVs in public areas, however, is not straightforward. Dieker emphasises that systemic change is required: “Many different cogs must move simultaneously.” As a researcher focused on the mobility transition, she collaborates with Leverage, a partnership of knowledge institutions, network organizations, businesses, and government agencies that aims to translate research into actionable municipal policy.

Municipalities play a pivotal role in integrating LEVs effectively. While some cities have experienced cluttered streets following the introduction of shared scooters, others in Europe have successfully implemented well-organized parking and charging solutions for both tourists and residents. Dieker highlights the challenge: “The question for many municipalities is: how do you create space for shared LEVs on the cycle path and in public spaces and prevent it from becoming a mess?”

In response to these challenges, HAN engineering students recently designed a mobile charging station for LEVs with an independent energy system. “This solves two problems,” Dieker notes, “LEV batteries can be charged more safely and sustainably because they don’t have to be removed from the LEV to charge them indoors or in the shed. And the LEVs get a logical, dedicated place in the public space.”

The upcoming Experience Day on October 28, co-organized by the Leverage project, will provide a platform to discuss these issues and explore practical solutions. At the event, Dieker and colleagues will present findings from an initiative in which four HAN professorships investigated opportunities and barriers to the mobility transition. The Arnhem and Nijmegen campuses served as “living laboratories,” where participants reflected on their own mobility choices. Attendees will also have the opportunity to test electric cargo bikes, scooters, and microcars. Those interested in attending can register here.