All these newfangled devices and no universal nomenclature.
Leila Hawa, Annie Chang, and John MacArthur address an ongoing challenge facing planners and public officials trying to get a grasp on emerging transportation modes, such as electric scooters, electric bikes, hoverboards, and more.
At this stage, decision-makers are still working to understand the impacts of micromobility and how to incorporate it into the fabric of cities. Confusion about how to classify these new vehicles and services and what to call them is contributing to vague regulations or a total lack thereof.
An international organization has stepped into to bring some rationality to the subject:
To address this challenge, SAE International, an international standards organization for mobility engineering, has established a common set of terminologies for describing micromobility vehicles, called 'J3194 – Taxonomy and Classification of Powered Micromobility.'"
According to the article, the J3194 taxonomy both captures the current state of micromobility and to accommodate future innovations in the field. A graphic summary of the SAE J3194 standard are included in the article.
FULL STORY: Micromobility Needs a Shared Vocabulary
Scooter-Share Company Tosses Financial Reports
Bird was counting money in customers’ digital “wallets” as revenue, and has admitted that financial statements from 2020 and 2021 “should no longer be relied upon.”
The State of the Micromobility Industry
The North American Bikeshare Association released the first-ever state of the industry report for active forms of micromobility—i.e., bike share and electric scooter rental companies.
An Atlas of E-Scooter Policies
Introducing the Micromobility Policy Atlas.
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?
King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents
The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.
Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing
Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.
Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive
Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie