Transportation and commuting are among the primary considerations in big cities. Like any other sector, commuting has undergone many developments, micromobility being one of the most significant. Micro-mobility refers to using small, lightweight, single-person vehicles to travel within cities.

These micro-vehicles are usually small, with a standard width of around three feet, meaning they can move on sidewalks or bike lanes. They are also typically low speed, with a maximum of 20 miles per hour. They can be fully motorized, moving without human assistance, or motor-assisted, meaning they need human power like kicking or pedaling. These modes of transportation can include ebikes, electric scooters, or electric skateboards.

While most of these micro-mobility vehicles are available through sharing platforms, you can also purchase your own. Many cities across the United States, Europe, Asia, and other continents are increasingly adopting micro-mobility because of its environmental benefits and ability to reduce traffic congestion.

While the progress was significantly affected by the pandemic, the popularity of this type of transportation is increasing world-wide. With an eye on reducing traffic and improving the environament, cities and commuters are embracing a new way to get around.

Benefits Of Micromobility

Environmentally Friendly

This is the main reason for the quick and widespread adoption of micro-mobility. Micro-vehicles have no emissions, meaning they have zero contributions to greenhouse gases and climate change.

They also do not require fuel, reducing dependence on earth’s non-renewable fossil fuels. Finally, their manufacture requires less materials than cars and trucks, again reducing the carbon footprint.

Low Cost

Micro-mobility vehicles have significantly lower production and operational costs compared to traditional vehicles. Their purchase costs are low, and they consume significantly less energy than other modes of transport. They also do not require a lot of space to store.

Unlike cars and trucks, you will have much less cost for regular maintenance, repairs, and replacements with a micro-mobility vehicle.

Convenience

Micro-mobility vehicles are readily available on sharing platforms throughout many cities worldwide. Often accessed through a mobile phone app, users can get an ebike or scooter at their convenience and return it to a docking station when they’re done. This can eliminate the hustle of finding parking and the stress of sitting in heavy traffic.

If you own an ebike or scooter, you can easily park it anywhere at your destination or bring it with you in the case of a skateboard.

Less Congestion

Cities are usually highly congested, which impacts travel times and increases safety risks. However, the congestion significantly reduces when fewer people take their own cars. More people using bike lanes or sidewalks on their micro-mobility vehicles may reduce traffic and commute times.

Considerations For Beginners

Even with all the benefits, micro-mobility has things you should consider if you want to join the trend.

Cost

While owning a micro-mobility vehicle offers significant cost savings over buying a car, they can still cost a significant amount of money. Depending on the technology and features of the ebike or scooter costs can vary greatly. Consider carefully the type of features you will need for your daily use. For example, if you like in a city with many hills, you may need a more powerful motor.

Safety

This is one of the most common downsides associated with micro-mobility. Consider your city’s infrastructure for bicycles.  Will you have safe, designated lanes to ride in? Like riding a traditional bike, you should always follow basic safety precautions on an ebike, such as wearing protective gear, following the rules of the road, and signaling your turns. The speed produced by ebikes and escooters also presents a safety challenge as it can be much faster than a traditional bike.

Theft and Damage

Even with so many rules about using and caring for these single-person vehicles, many people leave them abandoned or not properly parked, increasing the chances of damage and theft. When using your micro-mobility vehicle, secure it whenever you leave it outside to avoid theft.

Conclusion

Micro-mobility has become increasingly popular in urban areas over the past few years due to its convenience, reduced congestion, cost-effectiveness, efficiency, and environmental friendliness. If you are considering trading in your car commute for this type of transportation, take the time to research options in your location.

Does your city have an ebike share or will you need to buy your own vehicle? Is there proper infrastructure for a safe commute? Does your building have storage for a vehicle? Embracing this new way of commuting can save you money and the headache of sitting in traffic while making our cities cleaner and more accessible to everyone.