A Summary Report TOL-24-005
Henry Johnston, Xinchen Li and Shannon Minehan
Aurora Insights
research@aurorainsights.co.uk
Introduction
As the demand for healthier, sustainable, and more efficient mobility solutions rises, micromobility has gained traction and transformed urban transportation. Micromobility refers to small, lightweight transportation devices designed for short-distance travel, typically operating at speeds below 25km/h (Marie, 2023).
Common micromobility vehicles include bikes, scooters, skateboards, roller-skates, and their electric equivalents (US Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, 2021; Marie, 2023). These vehicles offer sustainable, convenient, and health-conscious travel options.
They also help address environmental challenges, improve efficiency, and drive innovation for private companies, governments, and the public sector alike. This paper examines trends across the micromobility sector. We assess the roles, responsibilities, use, and legislation of micromobility in the public and private sectors, as well as the role of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in encouraging a global modal shift towards micromobility.
We also investigate the trends organisations face in implementing micromobility solutions. Specifically, we analyse the challenges, technological solutions, and overall benefits encountered before and after implementing micromobility systems and related technologies.
Background
Micromobility is experiencing rapid growth worldwide, with the global market valued at US$175bn in 2022 and projected to reach US$360bn by 2030 (Heineke et al., 2024). This market growth and continued popularity has several key motivators. The first of these is global sustainability.
As micromobility vehicles are not fossil-fuel-powered, they do not contribute directly to emissions, thus reducing the environmental impacts of travelling (Buning and Pham, 2023). Furthermore, the health benefits associated with increased micromobility are also a key motivator of this sectoral shift. As a form of active travel, micromobility promotes physical activity, which has been linked to lower risks of cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
Additionally, since micromobility vehicles lack combustion engines, they produce minimal noise and air pollution, reducing the health risks associated with exposure to harmful emissions and noise (Patterson et al., 2020; UK Health Security Agency, 2023). Micromobility’s impact on reducing tragic congestion has also contributed to the industry’s rapid market growth, with the modal shift saving users time, money, and fuel that would otherwise be lost if they were stuck in tragic (Büttgen et al., 2021; Pleeth 2023).
Both the public and private sectors play an important role in this development of the micromobility sector. The public sector’s role is two-fold. Firstly, the government must provide safe and adequate micromobility infrastructure, ensure this infrastructure is well-maintained, and offer micromobility schemes to ensure micromobility vehicles can be used. Secondly, the public must use these vehicles and related infrastructure responsibly.
To fulfil these roles, governments can implement legislation that restricts micromobility ownership, implement health and safety requirements, and earmark funds to ensure the design and maintenance of infrastructure (Local Government Association, 2023; Micromobility for Europe, 2024; RAC, 2024). The private sector also plays a significant role in micromobility.
As well as manufacturing the majority of micromobility vehicles, the private sector is also essential for investing in micromobility technologies and related infrastructure, innovating, and expanding the market. From 2018 to 2022, USD$8.4 billion was invested into private sector micromobility companies in Asia, North America, and Europe (Heineke, 2022). Further, the private sector is continuously innovating uses for micromobility. For instance, delivery companies are utilizing e-cargo bikes for last-mile deliveries to reduce congestion, improve environmental outcomes, and enhance operational efficiency.
Additionally, shared microhubs have been developed to store micromobility vehicles for last-mile deliveries (Fin, n.d.; Delivery Mates, n.d.; Büttgen et al., 2021). With this rise in the prevalence of micromobility solutions, the public and private sectors have begun to form public-private partnerships (PPPs). These collaborations can be used to improve public services, manage public assets, improve accessibility, expand micromobility use, and aid sustainable infrastructure development (Vélib’ Métropole, n.d.; Ballinger, 2022; Guo et al., 2022).
However, the implementation of micromobility schemes also presents challenges. Firstly, the electricity generation and battery component mining required for emicromobility can raise environmental and human rights concerns (Barkenbus, 2017). Secondly, accessibility and equity remain significant barriers, particularly for individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, rural areas, and those with disabilities.
Thirdly, the lightweight nature and rising market value of micromobility vehicles make them attractive targets for theft (Mini Walker, 2023). Fourthly, safety concerns from micromobility also rise due to road damage like potholes, increasing incidents involving micromobility users (Jones, 2023), and finally, there are also infrastructure challenges facing the micromobility sector, including high costs of construction and the need for widespread charging facilities (Clean Mobility Options, 2022).
Data
To explore the most recent trends in the use and implementation of micromobility solutions, we constructed a novel data set from 25 micromobility case studies. For each case study, we manually collected demographic data, information on the challenges projects sought to resolve, the solutions implemented, the technologies employed, and the benefits reaped.
Overall, our sample consisted of 25 case studies involving 62 companies. Each case study, on average, involved 2.48 companies. Approximately 45% of companies within our sample had over 1,000 employees, and 90% were headquartered in the United Kingdom. Twenty-seven percent of the sample operated in the transportation and logistics industry, while 23% of our sample were government administrations.
Trends in challenges
We identified four key challenges that motivated or occurred in relation to micromobility within our case studies:
- Over three quarters (76%) of the case studies reported environmental issues as a major concern, with 32% of the case studies specifically raising concerns regarding pollution in the transportation sector. Key environmental concerns included high greenhouse gas emissions, poor air quality, the global climate emergency, high scope 3 emissions, and excessive energy consumption, each of which can further contribute to global challenges like rising sea levels, natural disasters, and environment-related health issues. Micromobility presents a viable solution to this challenge by reducing car dependency, leading to lower fuel consumption and emission reductions.
- Over half (56%) of the case studies aimed to promote a modal shift toward more sustainable transportation methods, such as walking, cycling, and vehicle sharing. With governments promoting active travel methods like micromobility to reduce negative environmental impacts from transport and to improve public health, micromobility is emerging as a crucial component of sustainable urban mobility.
- Over one third (36%) of case studies were looking to address road safety concerns stemming from inadequate infrastructure, poor parking, and unsafe user behavior. This was a particular concern for government administrations who aimed to improve safety for pedestrians and micromobility users, creating a safer and more inclusive urban environment where residents could travel with confidence.
- Around 24% of our micromobility case studies sought to improve congestion. As micromobility vehicles can park on sidewalks and travel in cycle lanes, their use alleviates congestion. This was a notable trend in both the public and private sectors with many of the involved companies reporting that congestion wasted road-users time, raised costs for road-users, and reduced efficiency.
Trends in technologies and solutions
We identified several trends in the solutions and technologies applied to address these challenges. Half of the case studies within our sample implemented electric micromobility (e-micromobility), addressing environmental concerns through the reduction of direct exhaust emissions. Two fifths of the case studies used data to address the aforementioned challenges, with improved data collection and comprehensive analysis enhancing visibility and streamlining planning.
In conjunction with the increased use of data and data analytics, digitalization and additional monitors and sensors were also popular solutions for improving business performance, with 36% of case studies reporting their implementation alongside micromobility. Monitors and sensors are integral for capturing real-time data, while digital dashboards are commonly used to organize and interpret the collected information.
Trends in benefits
Companies experienced a range of benefits in addressing these micromobility challenges or through the implementation of micromobility solutions and technologies. Some 60% of our case studies reported improved environmental impacts, stemming from overwhelming reductions in emissions, improved air quality, and enhanced energy savings.
Over one-third (36%) of the case studies saw improved business performance, and just under one third (32%) of the case studies reported reductions in congestion. Lower congestion also has follow-on benefits, as it saves companies time and costs, enhances operational efficiency, and ultimately contributes to better business performance.
Finally, 24% of our case studies reported improvements in visibility, likely related to the reported increase in data creation, monitoring, and the digitalization of company processes. These technologies allow companies to track vehicle movements, monitor usage patterns, and identify potential issues, offering real-time insights and enhancing overall operational transparency. Each of these benefits demonstrates that transitions towards micromobility and related technological solutions can improve companies’ performance, improve society, and contribute positively to the environment.
Conclusion
In the face of growing challenges related to environmental concerns, road safety, congestion, public health, and transportation accessibility, micromobility offers a sustainable transportation alternative for both delivery companies and the public. To promote adoption of this solution, technologies such as digitalization, data analysis, monitors and sensors, and improved infrastructure have been widely implemented. Overall, integrating micromobility into urban transportation systems offers numerous benefits, demonstrating that micromobility can be incredibly advantageous for delivery companies’ operations, general urban development, and sustainability.
This summary report is an excerpt from bespoke research service provider Aurora Insights’ report, ‘Exclusive insights into 2024 micromobility trends: The future of urban mobility’. To purchase the forthcoming full 60+ page report and others covering topics including the supply chain and logistics, robotics and automation, and tolling/road user charging, please visit www.aurorainsights.co.uk.
