Active Travel and Micromobility
Active travel is human-powered mobility, such as biking, walking, or rolling. Active transportation directly replaces motor vehicle miles traveled, so these modes are effective at conserving fuel, reducing vehicle emissions, bridging the first- and last-mile gap, and improving individual and public health. Micromobility refers to partially human-powered vehicles including manual bikes, e-bikes, and e-scooters. Shared Micromobility options fill a gap in needs for single segment or one-way trips, allowing users to avoid the costs of purchasing, maintaining, and storing a bike. These solutions also present another way to close first-and-last-mile gaps by providing a more affordable, accessible, and equitable way for individuals to get to and from public transit options.
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Active Travel
Traveling by foot or bicycle improves equity, social cohesion, perceptions of security and liveability. Cycling and walking provide mobility to a large segment of society, especially the poor. However, the infrastructure which supports walking and cycling is inadequate in many cities throughout the world. Constructing safe active walking and cycling travel networks can improve access to opportunities and services for disadvantaged groups. Ultimately, people’s physical, mental, social and economic health benefit from the ability to walk or cycle in safe environments. The health benefits from cycling and walking are substantial and the WHO has recognized these modes as effective strategies to promote physical activity, a key factor in the prevention of noncommunicable diseases. Their potential to help move towards carbon-free mobility is also increasingly recognized.
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Micromobility
Micromobility refers to a range of small, lightweight vehicles operating at speeds typically below 25 km/h (15 mph) and driven by users personally (unlike rickshaws). Micromobility devices include bicycles, e-bikes, electric scooters, electric skateboards, shared bicycle fleets, and electric pedal assisted (pedelec) bicycles. Micromobility devices and shared systems offer new and powerful ways to help people meet their transportation needs. E-bikes and e-scooters can help many people overcome barriers that would otherwise prevent them from taking active forms of transportation. Micromobility is an affordable, efficient, low-carbon option that has become an attractive alternative to private vehicles for a variety of trips such as short commutes, first- and last-mile connections with public transport, and trips within and between neighbourhoods. Small Electric Vehicles (SEVs) are also known as Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEVs) in the USA, Low-Speed Electric Vehicles (LSEVs) in China and South Korea. SEVs are three- and four-wheeled vehicles that have the potential to contribute to climate protection, efficient land use, and mitigation of air pollution in cities.