Tag Archive: north america

  1. NABSA produces the annual Shared Micromobility State of the Industry Report

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    Source: NABSA

    NABSA has published the fifth annual Shared Micromobility State of the Industry Report for North America.

    The 2023 report highlights the ongoing success and importance of shared micromobility as a key component of the public transportation system, showcasing an industry that is growing, maturing, electrifying, and becoming more efficient and effective. In 2023, over 172 million shared micromobility trips were recorded across 421 cities in North America.

    Evolution and Maturity

    Over the past fifteen years, the shared micromobility industry has expanded, evolved, and become more robust. The number of shared micromobility trips and the presence of these systems in cities have reached their highest levels to date.

    172 million trips across North America in 2023

    280 thousand vehicles deployed per day on average

    Shared micromobility

    In this report, the term “cities” refers to local jurisdictions or municipalities. Sometimes, “cities” is used more broadly to encompass metro regions or counties where shared micromobility systems are in operation. When this broader usage occurs, the specific geography will be clarified in the text and/or the methodology section.

    Electrification trends

    Electrification continues to grow as electrified shared micromobility fleets gain in popularity and usage.

    Transportation equity

    Shared micromobility systems continue to provide a range of programs to advance equity.

    Download the full report here.

  2. E-bike incentives proven to reduce car travel and carbon emissions

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    Source: The University of British Columbia

    Study finds that rebate programmes are worth the investment due to significant environmental impact.

    Electric bicycle rebates have surged in popularity across North America as urban planners aim to steer individuals away from cars towards healthier, environmentally friendly alternatives. However, there is limited understanding of the full impact of these incentives.

    Insights from the Research on Active Transportation (REACT) Lab at the University of British Columbia (UBC) shed light on questions including whether these new cycling habits are sustainable, who benefits the most from incentives, and whether they are worth the cost. The study surveyed participants in an e-bike incentive program in Saanich, B.C., researchers discovered that the majority of new e-bike users sustained their biking habits as a substitute for car travel even a year post-purchase. Particularly, households with lower incomes exhibited the most significant reductions in car trips and carbon emissions, indicating that incentives effectively contribute to emission reduction.

    Reduced car travel

    The Saanich program, available from 2021 to 2022, offered varying rebates to offset e-bike costs. The rebate varied depending on household income, with the highest rebate reaching $1,600 for low-income households, and the lowest rebate amounting to $350. The results showcased a substantial uptake in e-bike adoption, with 93% of users being new to e-bikes and 60% entirely new to cycling.

    A year after the purchase, users remained content with their e-bikes, integrating them into their routines for 3-4 days each week. On average, they reduced weekly car travel by 48 kilometers, marking a 30-40% reduction.

    Principal investigator Dr. Alex Bigazzi, an associate professor of civil engineering at UBC leading REACT, emphasized “the enduring influence of incentives, especially among lower-income groups”The incentive not only encouraged people to switch to e-bikes, it also resulted in remarkable changes in travel behaviour that persisted long after the purchase,“.

    Notably, low income groups were most affected by incentives. 8 out of 10 would not have purchased an e-bike without the $1,600 incentive, compared to just 2 out of 10 of the $350 incentive group.

    Lower carbon emissions

    Reduced car usage translated into a notable decrease in travel-related greenhouse gas emissions, with users cutting down emissions by 16 kilograms of CO2 per week on average, one year after buying their e-bikes. Particularly, those benefiting from larger incentives displayed the most substantial reductions in car use and carbon emissions.

    The larger incentives aimed at lower-income families did a great job getting new riders in the saddle and gave them a lower-cost alternative to using their cars,” Dr. Bigazzi said.

    Greater cost-effectiveness compared to EV rebates

    Contrary to popular criticism regarding their cost-effectiveness relative to climate benefits, the Saanich program proved competitive with other transportation subsidies in Canada, costing approximately $190 to $720 per tonne of greenhouse gas emissions reduced. Dr. Bigazzi emphasized the superiority of e-bike incentives over electric vehicle rebates in emission reduction, underscoring additional benefits such as increased physical activity and reduced travel costs.

    The REACT Lab, in collaboration with the Province of B.C. and other researchers, is expanding its study to encompass the provincewide e-bike incentive program. This broader investigation will encompass factors such as climate variability, terrain, and cycling infrastructure, providing a more comprehensive understanding of their impacts.

  3. NABSA publishes annual Shared Micromobility State of the Industry report for North America

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    The report shows e-bike and e-scooter numbers and rides continue to rise, with annual total trips having now returned to pre-pandemic levels.

    Source: NABSA

    Image credit: NABSA

    NABSA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing resources, education, and advocacy for the shared micromobility industry, and to creating spaces for the industry’s public, private, and nonprofit sectors to convene and empower each other.

    NABSA unveiled its fourth annual Shared Micromobility State of the Industry Report for North America on August 10th. The 2022 edition of the report reveals that shared micromobility ridership in North America rebounded to levels seen before the pandemic and expanded to encompass more cities than ever before. In 2022, a staggering 157 million shared micromobility trips were recorded across 401 cities in North America. Furthermore, the systems expanded significantly, boasting the highest count of shared micromobility vehicles deployed to date, totaling 289,000.

    This year marked a period of resilience and growth for the industry. In 2022, trip numbers returned to pre-pandemic norms, and the proliferation of shared micromobility in various cities accelerated. The landscape of shared micromobility vehicles underwent continuous evolution, with e-devices such as e-scooters and e-bikes gaining momentum and increasing in popularity.

    Docked bikes just take the majority in trip numbers, at 50% of 157 million trips (46% to e-scooters), with electric bicycles accounting for 30.9 million of all trips within the bicycles category (docked and dockless). Therefore for electrically assisted trips, e-scooters dominate at 72.2 million journeys in 2022. In terms of units available for use across the country, scooters take a clear lead at 172,000 (60%) with electric bikes making up the smaller portion of the bicycle category, at 41,000 units.

    Download the report in full here

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