Tag Archive: Shared Mobility

  1. Brussels suburbs refuse entry to shared e-scooter services

    Comments Off on Brussels suburbs refuse entry to shared e-scooter services

    Source: TheMayor.eu

    The suburbs surrounding the Belgian capital have recently made the decision to abolish access for e-scooters – in contrast to Paris’s policies, where they have been banned from the city centre’s streets.

    In April, Paris residents voted to ban the e-scooter sharing services within the city, sparking discussions about the potential emergence of this action in other major European cities. Interestingly, in neighbouring Belgium, it’s not the capital region but the tranquil suburbs adjacent to Brussels that are embracing this idea.

    These new changes mean that attempting to complete a journey on an e-scooter across the municipal limits to neighbouring suburbs just isn’t possible.

    E-scooter companies have since urged Flemish local authorities to allow shared micro-mobility services, however these efforts have been met with strong opposition. E-scooter operators like Bolt and Tier are keen to expand into the Flemish satellite municipalities surrounding Brussels due to their proximity to the city centre, unlike the municipalities situated to the south of Brussels, which are more distant from the centre.

    Given that shared e-scooter schemes would improve the mobility integration with downtown Brussels, where many residents work and spend leisure time, this begs the question of why the governments of the municipalities in question refuse to allow this.

    According to The Brussels Times, the smaller local governments are unimpressed by the numerous complaints about reckless speeding and chaotic parking that often accompany the use of shared micro-mobility services.

    Ingrid Holemans, the mayor of Zaventem, a town whose territory includes the international airport of the Belgian capital, simply stated, “We don’t want them.”

    The VIAS road safety institute reveals that accidents involving electric scooters in Belgium have quadrupled over the past two years. Such statistics raise concerns among local officials, who have concluded that e-scooters could disrupt the peaceful nature of suburban life.

    Even in Brussels proper, the future appears bleak for electric two-wheelers. Starting from 2024, only two operators will be allowed to operate within the Belgian capital, each with a cap of 4,000 scooters. Whether this restriction will influence the municipalities to open their doors to these services remains uncertain.

  2. Krakow proposes measures to tackle e-scooter parking problems

    Comments Off on Krakow proposes measures to tackle e-scooter parking problems

    Source: Eltis

    Similar to many European cities, Krakow in Poland has experienced rapid growth in the use of e-scooters, the majority of which have been provided by shared mobility operators. However, like many cities, it has encountered the growing problem of e-scooters that have been parked improperly or abandoned throughout the city, causing obstructions and becoming a a source of frustration for the city’s residents. As a result, the city’s authorities have put forward new measures to regulate the parking of e-scooters.

    In May, the city’s authorities communicated with three commercial e-scooter operators about the forthcoming changes. Deputy Mayor of Krakow, Andrzej Kulig, stated, “We informed the representatives of three companies about the end of the period of free use of the city space. We also proposed the introduction of a municipal patrol, which would be financed by operators from fines for improperly parked scooters, as well as fees for using areas belonging to the municipality.” Kulig further explained, “The current state of Krakow is unsustainable…Despite existing arrangements with equipment operators, the problem of abandoned devices has been steadily growing, mainly due to the lack of legal regulations.”

    In 2020, Krakow Public Transport Authority and e-scooter operators entered an agreement, encompassing measures including enforcing a speed limit for e-scooters in the city centre and designating a no-parking zone including the Old Town and sections of the Vistula Boulevards. Outside of these areas, e-scooters were directed to be parked at specified locations known as ‘mobility hubs’. These hubs, established and designed by the City without charge for operators, were designated areas for proper parking. Operators were made responsible for the removal of improperly parked e-scooters. The city has now informed operators that they will need to start paying for the use of the mobility hubs under a lease contract. Additionally, the operators will be fined for e-scooters that require removal.

    In the meantime, the commercial operators have agreed between themselves to cap the maximum number of e-scooters at mobility hubs in central areas. In practice, users will be unable to return e-scooters once the hub’s maximum capacity is reached, meaning they will have to find an alternative hub. The operators have also urged the city to establish additional mobility points, potentially introducing a new type that permits users to start and end rentals, but unlike the current mobility points, there would be no active e-scooter deployment by operators. Moreover, the maximum number of e-scooters permitted at these points would be significantly lower.

    Krakow city authorities are optimistic that these new measures will alleviate the nuisance caused by improperly parked e-scooters. If not, they will explore additional actions, which could potentially include restricting e-scooter numbers by regulation or even terminating contracts with the operators.

  3. McKinsey Mobility Consumer Pulse Survey charts rise in shared urban mobility

    Comments Off on McKinsey Mobility Consumer Pulse Survey charts rise in shared urban mobility

    Source: McKinsey & Company

    Understanding consumer needs is the key to long-term success for those operating in the shared mobility sector

    Shared mobility can resolve many challenges of the urban mobility ecosystem and is an exciting opportunity for companies in the three main shared mobility sectors – hailed mobility, shared micromobility (to include e-kickscooters, traditional or e-bicycles, and traditional or electric mopeds), and car sharing . Shared mobility is on the rise, with an estimated current market value of $10 billion to $15 billion, compared to market values of $110 billion to $130 billion for hailed mobility and $4 billion to $5 billion for car sharing. Understanding the consumers’ preferences will only further increase the market revenues.

    Consumer Survey

    The McKinsey Mobility Consumer Pulse Survey asked worldwide mobility users’ views on the future of mobility, with a focus on shared mobility. A move away from a car-centric means of transportation was a repeated wish among all demographics, with shared and more sustainable mobility and a reduction in private vehicle usage high on the agenda.

    Over a quarter of urban dwellers who responded to the survey mentioned replacing their private vehicles with other transport means in the future, although fewer than 15% of rural respondents suggested the same. The survey concluded that sustainability, travel efficiency, and improved inner-city livelihoods were central to perspective change in mobility choice, more than incurred costs.

    Mobility modes with the largest influence

    McKinsey suggests that three main transport modes will alter the current trend; shared autonomous shuttles; micromobility solutions, such as e-kickscooters, (e)mopeds, and (e)bicycles; and minimobility alternatives. Minimobility references L6 and L7 electric vehicles with three or four wheels, an unladen mass of over 100 kg, and capacity for one to two passengers.

    The mobility survey also found that over 60% would consider a shared, autonomous shuttle service in the future, while 42% suggested that it could replace their private car trips. This could dramatically reduce the number of vehicles on the road, aiding in pollution directives, parking, and road safety. City center–airport connections (26%), supermarket runs (26%), and commutes (24%) were the most common responses from respondents regarding shuttle services.

    Micromobility endeavours are seen as convenient and a genuinely sustainable alternative. The McKinsey survey reported that a third of respondents aimed to use micromobility more often. 37 percent of urban respondents mentioned that an improved micromobility infrastructure would help them make their first step, with 33% agreeing it could replace up to 50% of their car trips. In addition, 60% of respondents showed an interest in owning their own kickscooter, only requiring the need for shared mobility on occasion in the future.

    Minimobility also generated considerable interest in the survey. 27% of the urban respondents suggested the introduction of microcars to their collection within the next 10 years, 50% of whom could see one replacing their private cars in the long term. The usage for microcars bore similarities to micromobility results; grocery shopping (48%), leisure activities (47%), and commuting (35%). Although 20% of those surveyed would consider sharing a minimobility vehicle, most had a preference for acquiring their own.

    Public transport will continue to play a key role in urban mobility, although three reoccurring themes need addressing; people want integrated user experiences, safe and accessible infrastructure, and continued electrification. Understanding these dynamics is key to future success.

  4. Europe’s shared e-scooter schemes’ fleets increased more than twofold in 2023

    Comments Off on Europe’s shared e-scooter schemes’ fleets increased more than twofold in 2023

    Source: ZAG Daily

    The number of shared e-scooters available in Europe has more than doubled from 285,000 in 2021 to 700,560 in 2022, according to statistics released by Micro-Mobility for Europe (MMfE).

    MMfE gathered the data from its eight shared micromobility members – Bird, Bolt, Dott, Hopp, Lime, Superpedestrian, Tier and Voi.

    Additionally, the association added numbers for e-bike fleets, which totalled 79,917 vehicles for 2022.

    Co-Chair of Micromobility for Europe, Pauline Aymonier, told Zag Daily the surge in vehicle availability clearly demonstrates how the demand for micromobility continues to grow throughout the EU, saying, “It highlights the industry’s positive impact on diversifying the urban mobility mix and offering alternatives to private car ownership.”

    Increasing demand

    MMfE’s report showed that the number of e-scooter trips has multiplied 17 times on the continent, from 14 million in 2021 to over 240 million in 2022. The total number of e-bike trips in 2022 stood at more than 28 million. 

    The distance covered by e-scooter trips also grew by almost 16 times, from 29 million to over 460 million kilometres over the same period, while the distance covered for e-bike trips was more than 74 million kilometres.

    MMfE’s incident report found that the rate of injuries on shared e-scooters fell by 19% in 2022, with Aymonier saying, “It is also important to note that despite the uptake of shared micromobility services in 2022, the rate of injuries with e-scooters and e-bikes has decreased compared to 2021, as revealed in our latest incident data report.”

  5. E-scooters are reducing congestion and pollution in cities, UK study shows

    Comments Off on E-scooters are reducing congestion and pollution in cities, UK study shows

    Source: MMB

    E-scooters can provide significant benefits in congestion relief, time savings, emissions reduction, and cutting car use, according to research conducted by University College London (UCL), commissioned by leading UK shared e-scooter company, Voi.

    The latest study, by researchers from the Energy Institute at UCL, is one of the first academic studies into e-scooter use that incorporates a first-hand environmental assessment of the service and uses real-world trip data – and also takes into account the full lifecycle of transport mode emissions, from the factory floor to end life.

    Analysed data was taken from 190,000 e-scooter trips in Bristol, UK, over a three-month period in 2021 to examine Voi e-scooters’ environmental impact, emissions included.

    The types of e-scooter trips analysed included not only those that replaced motorised transport such as cars, buses, and taxis which see a much bigger reduction in emissions, but walking and cycling too, which create a small increase in emissions, resulting in an overall reduction of 45%.

    The study found that emissions savings are positive in scenarios with average or long vehicle lifespan (over 6,500km) and with average or better operational efficiency. Voi has invested in both areas to minimise its footprint and maximise environmental benefits for cities and communities.

    Researchers also found that e-scooters cut commuting times, especially during peak hours, helping to save users a total of 4,000 hours during the course of the study. In addition, e-scooter trips replaced more than 30,000 miles of motorised transport journeys, helping to reduce pollution and congestion in the city.

    Reducing car dependency and decarbonising urban transport is seen as a vital step in achieving the UK government goal of achieving net zero and improving the well-being and efficiency of cities.

    In addition, congestion has a significant economic burden, costing the UK economy around £6.9 billion a year, according to a 2019 INRIX study.

    Emmanouil Chaniotakis, one of the authors for this study has said: “Essentially, the findings suggest that shared e-scooters have the potential to provide significant benefits in terms of mode shift, congestion, time savings, and emissions reductions if implemented effectively. By replacing trips previously taken by more polluting modes of transportation, shared e-scooters can reduce emissions and congestion during peak periods.

    “Local governments should make sure that they invest in those shared e-scooter programmes which are well-regulated and show proof of good fleet management and maintenance, leading to high kilometre lifespan, responsible end-of-life practices and efficient operations.

    “Local governments should also introduce and monitor compliance regarding operations, use, manufacturing and end-of-life practices. To see greater impact, they could also work with e-scooter companies to incentivise more effective use (e.g. reduce fares over peak hours or demand-informed deployment that complement public transport and support active travel) to reduce congestion and emissions.”

    Jack Samler, Voi general manager UK, Ireland and France said, “It’s great to see the massive impact e-scooters can have in transforming cities, reducing emissions, and cleaning the air around us.

    “At Voi, we have invested in building durable e-scooters and ensuring they provide as many rides as possible to reduce their impact throughout their whole life cycle. We are committed to managing our operations as efficiently and sustainably as possible.

    “We aim to transform how people move in cities, freeing us from car dependency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, working all the time to reduce the environmental impact of our value chain and operations in the process.”

  6. Riders of electric scooters in Japan will not need driver’s license from July

    Comments Off on Riders of electric scooters in Japan will not need driver’s license from July

    Source: The Japan Times

    Japan is set to relax regulations on electric scooters starting in July, allowing individuals aged 16 and above to ride them without a driver’s license

    This move has been met with enthusiasm by electric-scooter sharing companies and others who anticipate enhanced convenience as a result. However, there are concerns about an influx of riders who may not be familiar with traffic regulations typically learned at driving schools.

    Electric kick scooters are equipped with motors that propel them forward without requiring users to continually push against the ground. These vehicles gained popularity in Japan around 2021, primarily among individuals in their 20s and 30s, many of whom use them for commuting purposes.

    Generally, these scooters are expected to be ridden on roadways. However, users are allowed to ride them on sidewalks where bicycles are permitted, as long as they maintain a speed no greater then 6 kph and display a flashing green light.

    Daiki Okai, the 29-year-old president of Luup, a Tokyo-based electric scooter sharing service operator, expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming changes, stating, “We’ll have a big opportunity… The user base will expand.”

    Luup currently leases electric kick scooters from approximately 3,000 locations primarily in major cities such as Tokyo and Osaka. The company aims to increase this number to around 10,000 by 2025.

    The Japanese government also holds high expectations for electric scooters, recognising their ability to meet diverse needs, including those of tourists seeking rental options. A representative from the industry ministry, responsible for promoting the widespread use of these vehicles, expressed support for this development.

    However, some individuals have voiced concerns regarding the revision of traffic rules. A collective of local residents’ and shopkeepers’ associations in Tokyo’s upscale Ginza district highlighted the instances of rule violations by scooter riders on sidewalks and pedestrian zones even before the regulatory changes. Yoshikuni Matsuzawa, the head of the group’s environment and safety division, stressed concerns about potential accidents involving pedestrians, as the absence of a license requirement might result in insufficient rider preparation.

    In September of last year, a man tragically lost his life in Tokyo after falling from an electric scooter. It is believed that he was under the influence of alcohol while operating the vehicle. In response, electric scooter companies are intensifying their efforts to prevent dangerous driving incidents. For example, Luup suspends users’ accounts if they are found to have ridden while under the influence of alcohol. Similarly, BRJ, a company operating an electric scooter sharing service primarily in Tachikawa, Tokyo, ceases vehicle rentals at midnight to discourage drunken driving.

  7. THOR AVAS at Micromobility Europe

    Comments Off on THOR AVAS at Micromobility Europe

    LEVA-EU member THOR AVAS presented its solution for the audible accompaniment to electric vehicles of the future, at the 2023 edition of Microbility Europe, held in Amsterdam on 8-9 June.

    THOR presented its AVAS (Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System) project for micro transport, using electric scooters as an example. At the stand near the main entrance to the exhibition, guests and participants of the show could not only chat with representatives of the company, Alex Nord and Alena Toropchina, but also listen to the sound of the system on an e-scooter, and ride it on a test track.

    THOR AVAS is a solution for sound branding and improving the safety of electric vehicles based on the patented principle of sound transmission – both recorded from real engines of cool supercars, and artificially created by THOR AVAS’s team of acoustics and sound engineers. Silent scooters often lead to accidents, and a harmonious sound will help all road users to notice the approach of a high-speed electric scooter, moped or car in advance.

    What is the THOR AVAS system?

    The main thing is, of course, software. This software allows sounds created by the THOR AVAS sound designers to be played on almost any speaker, reading data from the CAN / UART data bus of the vehicle, and dynamically playing the sound of tracks consisting of several complex layers of audio tracks. Sounds can be recorded (left on the server) or selected through the application.

    The patented technology enables not only the reading and expression into sound all the cycles of movement of an electric (initially silent) vehicle, but also makes it possible to notice (hear) it within 5 seconds, regardless of how fast it moves. This is an important aspect that THOR AVAS has achieved through numerous tests in real conditions and in simulated conditions in an anechoic chamber. The system allows you to make the sound quiet and stay within existing noise legislation, while remaining noticeable, and therefore audible to pedestrians and other road users.

  8. CoMoUK publishes Report on Shared E-scooter Trials in England 2023

    Comments Off on CoMoUK publishes Report on Shared E-scooter Trials in England 2023

    CoMoUK, an organisation and charity promoting the social, economic and environmental benefits of shared transport, has published its report on three years of e-scooter trials in England.

    Download the CoMoUK report on the shared e-scooter trials in England here

    The charity shared, “We come to a number of recommendations, leading with the need for legislation. The trials have clearly proved popular in a sustained way and our work brings new insights into the trials, which have now been running for almost three years.”

    “Our report is here and results from data gathering from operators and dialogue with all stakeholders. We look forward to delving further into the dynamics of shared e-scooters in future work and have written to transport minister to further press the case for legislation to make e-scooters legalisation via creating a new low emission powered light vehicle class.”

    The report covers a wide range of topics and considerations, with trials totalling 2.3 million users and current e-scooter fleet numbers standing at over 24,000. Recommendations are given in the following seven areas: Communication, Infrastructure, Legislation, Stop treating e-scooters as cars, Procurement, Parking and Technology.

    CoMoUK holds a monthly forum for authorities working on or interested in shared e-scooter trials, with the most recent one having just taken place on Monday 15th May. Interested parties may email Antonia@como.org.uk to express their interest in joining.

  9. Brussels proposes to reduce shared scooter numbers to 8,000 from 2024

    Comments Off on Brussels proposes to reduce shared scooter numbers to 8,000 from 2024

    Source: vrt nws

    With a current combined fleet of 21,000 scooters in the streets in the Brussels region, a draft decision aims to cut these down to 8,000 and limit the number of operators to 2


    The Brussels government wants to allow a maximum of 8,000 shared scooters in the capital’s streets from next year, vrt reports. With the number currently standing at 21,000, this equates to a reduction of more than 60%. The proposal comes in the form of a draft decision that the government has approved at second reading. From 2024, the government also wants only 2 distributors of shared scooters in the capital. Additionally, there be limits on other shared vehicles, such as bicycles and cargo bikes.

    To combat wild parking, the principle of “drop zones” will be extended to the entire territory of the capital region from January. Scooters will only be allowed to be left behind in those zones. The government also wants heavier fines, or levies for the movement or removal of a vehicle that is left behind, outside of these drop zones. If that is not sufficient, it cannot be ruled out that a strict ban will be introduced at a later stage. This was already stated in parliament a few weeks ago by Minister of Mobility Elke Van den Brandt (Green).

    Last autumn, Van den Brandt presented the draft decision to regulate the market for shared scooters and bicycles in Brussels. Since then, there has been extensive consultation with, among others, the municipalities and police zones. The draft decree still has to be submitted to the Council of State before the government can start a third and final reading.

Campaign success

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.

Member profile

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.