TAC a n up tid date bi tsf rom t he T LC Introducing your newest TLC Member With a background in land development and specializing in transportation planning and engineering, Niki Burkinshaw, P.Eng. is passionate about planning, designing, and building great neighbourhoods and transportation networks. She has a diversity of experience in transportation planning, capacity and operational analysis, and transportation planning for land development. Her experience in both private and public sector positions gives a well informed and balanced approach as she strives to find solutions for whatever challenges lie before her. As the Alberta Regional Lead for Transportation at WATT Consulting Group, Niki’s role spans the technical, management, and business development spectrum of a mid-sized consulting office. Welcome, Niki, to CITE’s Technical Liaison Committee!
ITE Micromobility Design Guide Project Update As part of its coordination role with ITE, the TLC shares an update from Nathan Carswell, P.Eng., member of and contributor to the ITE Mobility as a Service/Mobility on Demand (MaaS/MoD) Technical Working Group and Regional Lead for WATT Consulting Group’s Okanagan office.
Several organizations have addressed planning and policy considerations for micromobility vehicles, but design guidance for micromobility vehicles remains somewhat limited. In response, ITE launched a working group of individuals interested in the micromobility space to undertake the development of a Micromobility Design Guide. The Guide’s main goal is to give professionals and practitioners some additional context when faced with decisions on how to accommodate micromobility vehicles. It also provides insight into other micromobility design
11 TRANSPORTATION TALK | WINTER 2020-2021
resources. The Guide provides an easy-to-use standardized classification system for micromobility vehicles as it relates to their size, weight, top speed, and power source. The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) International Taxonomy and Classification of Powered Micromobility Vehicles – J3194 is the basis of that classification system, which aims to provide a commonality of terms and definitions. This classification can then be used to identify specific design challenges that specific types of micromobility vehicles might encounter. The guide takes a closer look at these design challenges and focuses on some practical options to mitigate those challenges, along with providing real-world examples of those potential solutions in action. The ITE Micromobility Design Guide is expected to be published in the spring of 2021.
CREDIT: NATHAN CARSWELL
Micromobility has exploded globally, attracting investments and customers two to three times faster than other mobility services such as carsharing and ride-hailing. The commercialization and growth of micromobility seem to spring from the increasing density of cities and the resulting need to move more citizens through existing transportation networks. While transit is undoubtedly the backbone of transportation for most citizens for commuting or other trip purposes, micromobility has found its niche in the first and last kilometre transportation. Adding micromobility vehicles to the mix of other existing street users such as pedestrians, drivers, and cyclists can add to the already complex challenge of designing for multiple modes in a limited right-of-way.
Riders in powered non-self balancing boards in Kelowna, BC.
