Tag Archive: modal share

  1. Half of car commutes could be replaced by shared micromobility in England and Wales

    Comments Off on Half of car commutes could be replaced by shared micromobility in England and Wales

    Source: ZAG Daily

    More than half (56%) of car commutes to work in England and Wales could be replaced by shared e-bikes or e-scooters, according to CoMoUK, a national shared transport charity. This shift could equate to 7.4 million journeys annually, saving one million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions — about 1% of emissions from domestic UK travel.

    The findings, published in a report funded by the Foundation for Integrated Transport, explore the untapped potential of shared transport in England and Wales. CoMoUK Chief Executive Richard Dilks identified insufficient funding as the primary obstacle preventing shared transport from achieving these figures.

    The UK gives almost no public subsidy to shared transport, unlike some other nations who are doing much better in this regard,” Richard told Zag Daily. He also highlighted other barriers, such as limited promotion, lack of public awareness, and inadequate prioritization of sustainable transport over private car use.

    CoMoUK’s research combines 2021 Census data with insights from shared transport users. By analyzing how many individuals and households share characteristics with current users, the charity estimated the broader potential for shared transport.

    For bike share specifically, up to 5.1 million commutes to work could transition from cars to bikes — 39% of all work-related trips in England and Wales. This would reduce carbon emissions by 408 kilotonnes and replace 2.4 billion car kilometers annually.

    The report also revealed that 7.2 million households, representing 29% of all households in England and Wales, could feasibly adopt car club memberships. This could reduce car travel by 1.8 billion kilometers each year and remove 1.6 million vehicles from the roads.

    CoMoUK’s Recommendations

    To unlock the full potential of shared transport, CoMoUK outlined seven key recommendations:

    Dedicated funding and policy: Shared transport should be treated as a core element in policymaking and implemented in all UK localities with populations of 100,000 or more.

    Policy clarity: The charity urges the government to legalize e-scooters and support small-scale car clubs, particularly in rural areas. Recent developments, such as the launch of England’s Integrated National Transport Strategy, signal progress, but new Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander must continue this momentum.

    Integration with public transport: CoMoUK calls for investment in an integrated, sustainable transport network, including a national system of mobility hubs. Shared transport must work in harmony with public transit and active travel options to achieve its potential.

    Rural accessibility: Focus on rural areas with suitable infrastructure for e-bikes and e-scooters, ensuring these regions aren’t left behind in shared transport initiatives.

    Transport and spatial planning coordination: Align shared transport with broader transport and urban planning policies for seamless implementation.

    Financial incentives: Introduce tax breaks, subsidies, and financial incentives to make shared transport more accessible, such as a national “mobility credits” rewards scheme.

    Expansion targets: Set measurable goals, benchmarks, and timelines to monitor and drive the growth of shared transport options.

    Richard Dilks emphasized that shared transport must become a central part of the UK’s transport strategy. “Embedding it [shared transport] in the existing public transport system, factoring it in alongside active travel options, and also focusing outright on how it can be expanded nationally,” he said.

  2. Bicycle use in the Netherlands continues to rise according to Key Mobility Figures 2024

    Comments Off on Bicycle use in the Netherlands continues to rise according to Key Mobility Figures 2024

    Source: Fietsberaad Crow

    In 2023, the Dutch traveled approximately 187 billion kilometers within their own country, an increase from 2022 but still 8% below pre-pandemic levels. However, the number of kilometers traveled by bike or on foot has grown since 2019 and is expected to continue rising. These findings come from the biennial Key Mobility Figures 2024 report by the Knowledge Institute for Mobility Policy (KiM).

    Cycling accounted for 17.9 billion kilometres in 2023, about 1% more than in 2019 and 5% more than in 2022, making up roughly 10% of total kilometres traveled. On average, individuals cycled slightly less than in 2019, with per-person distances dropping from 1,090km annually to 1,065km in 2023. Electric bicycles now represent 38% of all cycling kilometres, a significant rise from just 6% a decade ago. While e-bikes have partially replaced traditional bicycles, the total distance traveled on regular bikes still grew by 2% between 2022 and 2023.

    Future Trends

    KiM projects that by 2029, bicycle use will increase by 11% compared to 2023. The use of electric bicycles is expected to grow by 40%, while distances covered on regular bicycles may decline by 7%. The report also highlights the growing diversity of electrically assisted or motorized two-wheelers on the road, some of which blur the classification between bicycles and other vehicle types.

    Walking and Remote Work

    The Dutch traveled 8% more kilometres in 2023 than in 2022, but 8% fewer than in 2019. Despite the reduction in total kilometres, travel time remained comparable to 2019, largely due to a 33% increase in walking distances since 2019. The decline in overall travel is primarily attributed to a rise in remote working.

    About Key Mobility Figures

    The Key Mobility Figures 2024 report provides a 10-year retrospective and a five-year outlook on mobility trends, including data on travel distances, travel time, accessibility, traffic safety, and the living environment. Published every two years in even years, the report complements the more comprehensive Mobility Image report released in odd years.

    Click here to read the full report.

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