Micromobility: How e‑Bikes and Scooters Are Transforming Urban Transportation
The way people get around cities is rapidly changing. Although most commuters still travel by car, congestion, pollution and the rising cost of car ownership are prompting many urban dwellers to look for alternatives. Micromobility — the use of small, low‑speed vehicles such as bicycles, scooters, mopeds and their electric versions — is emerging as a major solution.
Micromobility devices are ideal for short trips of up to a few miles. In the United States, sixty percent of all trips fall into this short‑distance category, making bicycles and scooters a practical option for many journeys. Sales of electrically assisted bicycles surged by more than 200 percent in 2021, and the market for electric scooters in the United States is already worth billions of dollars. Analysts expect that market to grow by more than ten percent per year through the end of the decade. Shared micromobility systems are also booming: hundreds of cities in North America now offer bike‑share or scooter‑share schemes, and ridership is up sharply compared with the late 2010s.
Several factors are driving the shift. Electric bikes and scooters let riders glide up hills and travel longer distances without breaking a sweat, while still being more affordable and energy‑efficient than cars. Urban planners see them as a way to reduce traffic and improve air quality. Surveys show that a large majority of current micromobility users choose bikes or scooters instead of a private car for at least some trips. Many cities are expanding bike lanes and introducing traffic‑calming measures to make streets safer for small vehicles.
Challenges remain. Safety concerns are common, especially when scooters and bikes share the road with automobiles. Regulations on where and how devices can be parked or ridden vary widely between municipalities. Weather can make micromobility less attractive in some climates. Yet as technology improves — including better batteries, swappable packs and sturdier designs — and as cities continue to redesign streets for multi‑modal transport, micromobility is poised to become a permanent part of the urban mobility mix. For commuters seeking to save money, avoid congestion and lower their carbon footprint, small electric vehicles may become the go‑to option.
