MISSION:
MICRO
Experts from Alta Planning + Design share the highs, lows, skepticism and controversy surrounding micromobility and give you a detailed how-to guide to seamlessly incorporate these small wonders into your community. Lisa Nisenson, New Mobility Technical Advisor | Alta Planning + Design
Micromobility — bicycles, skateboards, skates, and scooters — is making headlines around the world, from positive reviews to heightened concerns over safety and management. However, there is one point of agreement: micromobility is a growing part of how people choose to get around. Because of this, both single family and condominiumfocused associations will need to reevaluate their buildings, parking, streets and sidewalks for a growing range of modes.
WHAT IS MICROMOBILITY?
In general, micromobility is defined as small transportation modes propelled by humans or electric motors with top speeds lower than 35 miles per hour. Innovators are constantly developing new models for both human travelers and package delivery, which is rising with the growing use of e-commerce. In urban areas and on campuses, shared-use micromobility systems such as Lime and Bird are popular. In fact, the ridesharing companies Lyft and Uber have expanded to bike and scooter sharing services. Users download an app to locate and unlock a
nearby bicycle, scooter or moped. Users can pay for each trip, or subscribe to monthly packages that allow a certain number of trips that are up to 30 minutes in duration. In the original format, bicycles were checked out and returned to parking stations, or docks. In the dockless, or free-floating model, users can pick up or drop off bikes and scooters anywhere in a designated area.
For associations, access to bicycling The dockless is a top buying FOR ASSOCIATIONS, ACCESS model has been preference, in TO BICYCLING IS A TOP BUYING controversial particular for the next PREFERENCE, IN PARTICULAR FOR given the generation of buyers. THE NEXT GENERATION OF BUYERS. number of bikes Younger buyers and scooters are more attuned improperly to transportation parked on sidewalks and private property. options beyond an automobile, seeking Cities hosting shared-use micromobility selections that could involve transit, active programs are increasing requirements transportation and now, micromobility. such as designated parking and timely response to complaints. Some cities In the future, micromobility will be a part are creating hybrid dock and dockless of Mobility-as-a-Service, or MaaS. Initiated systems to meet rider expectations for in Finland, MaaS serves as a single readily available bicycles and scooters. application to coordinate all aspects of travel. In cities, this means scheduling and paying for rideshare, bikeshare and transit MARKET FOR MICROMOBILITY with the touch of one button. In suburban Micromobility’s popularity is growing, areas, commuters can combine electric in part, for a low cost, accessible and bikeshare, commuter rail and “guaranteed fun alternative to driving for local trips. ride home” without switching programs. The shared-use model is popular given “Guaranteed ride home” is the availability the initial high prices for electric bikes, of a ride in case a carpooler or transit mopeds and scooters. Nonetheless, rider needs to tend to an emergency. both owned and shared-use models are gaining market share quickly.
LESSON: MICROMOBILITY WILL IMPACT YOUR COMMUNITY IF IT HASN’T ALREADY. Micromobility is popular because it provides new options to carry out short trips for shopping, commutes and access to transit stations. In the United States over one-third of all trips are two miles or less. Close to twenty-five percent of all trips are between 5-10 miles. Portland, Oregon recently assessed how,
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and why, riders chose scooters. According to responses, the scooters are taking car trips off the road. Thirty-four percent of respondents said their last e-scooter trip replaced what would have been a taxi, Uber or Lyft ride. Close to half of tourists interviewed noted their last e-scooter trip replaced a car ride.
CONSIDERATIONS
The popularity, appeal, and issues in your region will vary. Here are several considerations for assessing how to handle micromobility for your community:
LOCAL LAWS: Many localities have
existing rules for bicyclists such as helmet requirements and whether bicycling is allowed on sidewalks. With the rise of pedal-assist and e-bikes, communities will need to review their use on regional trails. • Communities are also issuing new micromobility permits that cover a range of operations including distribution, hours of operation, response times and data reporting. The data reporting helps cities understand how micromobility supports or detracts from the transportation system.
STREETS AND BIKE LANES: Safety
is a top concern as emergency room visits due to scooters and bikes grows. In fact, New Orleans recently banned shared scooters until the city has safe infrastructure in place. The growth in both bike and scooters is increasing pressure for protected bicycle lanes and trails. • In addition to scooters, several companies are launching moped share. The technology firm Bosch just released a lower cost moped for $1200. As prices drop, both owned and shared models of micromobility will compete for roadways and lanes. • With the rise in e-commerce, traffic and related congestion are on the rise, even outside of urban cores. In response, companies like Amazon and UPS are looking at smaller, lower impact vehicles.
SIDEWALKS: For single family
communities, you may already have rules on sidewalk use. You may need to revisit these rules as more travelers on a wider variety of vehicles take to the road. Both urban and single family-focused communities will, in the not-so-distant future create rules for autonomous deliverybots, which rely on sidewalks to quickly transport packages and food.
PARKING: Parking for micromobility
may not seem like an issue, but cities are scrambling to better manage where scooters, bikes and mopeds park on streets, on sidewalks and in garages. Drivers and business owners often object due to reasons related to business and convenience. The shifts in mobility require a revised definition of parking to include a variety of modes. Toyota and Lime are both working on small “pod cars,” which are smaller, but will still require travel lanes, parking and charging stations.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOAS
Reallocating road, sidewalk and parking spaces is not without challenges. For micromobility, there will be both support and skepticism within your building or community. For association boards, the trick will be in how to introduce, test, and scale facilities to support micromobility. Here are a couple of approaches. 1.
GAUGE INTEREST. First, managers should survey tenants and owners on micromobility to determine knowledge and interest (or lack thereof). This includes a survey of potential buyers and realtors.
2. WORK WITH LOCAL BIKE/ PEDESTRIAN AND TRANSPORTATION COORDINATORS. Most local transportation agencies and departments have outreach programs for building owners and associations. They are in the best position to provide an update on bicycle/ pedestrian planning and pilot projects with micromobility providers. 3. ORGANIZE DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS AND TACTICAL URBANISM. Many cities are using one-day demonstration projects to test and refine bike lane designs with the public. Based on potential interest, the HOA can host a mobility day to let residents test bikes and scooters. During the event, the HOA can use “Quick Build” lanes with simple construction materials. 4. CONSIDER MANAGED FLEETS. New companies are offering fleets to individual buildings, development projects and campuses. Gotcha Technologies works with campuses, providing low-speed, electric circulators and bike share. The firm Envoy, based in Los Angeles, provides fleets of electric cars, mopeds and e-bikes to building tenants who want to live without a car. These fleets act like common carshare companies such as Zipcar, but are reserved for building or community tenants. Both building-based and communitybased associations will face rising demand for “Grab and Go” mobility. As innovation continues, building and parking managers will likewise need to track and manage new versions of motorized bikes, mopeds, cars, transit and even passenger drones.
ABOUT ALTA PLANNING + DESIGN Founded in 1996, Alta Planning + Design is an international consulting firm with a mission to create active communities where bicycling and walking are safe, healthy, fun, and normal daily activities. With more than 200 staff in 30 offices across North America, they specialize in bicycle, pedestrian, trail, park, greenway, and roadway planning, design, and implementation in addition to outreach and education programs.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lisa Nisenson has 20 years of experience in city design as a civic activist, federal policymaker, local planner and civic technology entrepreneur. Her expertise is assembling land use, transportation and economic development practices that deliver multiple benefits. Lisa has conducted research and written seminal guides on water resources, transit-orientation, innovation, civic engagement and technology. Currently, her work focuses on adaptive planning for technology, in particular smart city and transportation technology (including planning for active + autonomous vehicles).
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