Tracking the Recovery of Shared Mobility

Ridership for shared mobility systems like e-scooters and bikes is on the rise after the pandemic slump, reports Dan Zukowski in Smart Cities Dive. “Riders took 113 million trips on shared bikes and e-scooters in the U.S. during 2022, according to a new report from the National Association of City Transportation Officials, setting a new high since the 2019 peak of 136 million rides.”

However, the report highlights concern due to “volatility amongst private-sector operators” and higher user costs. The report recommends that city leaders work with shared mobility providers to create “thoughtful pricing policies” and promote safe road infrastructure in their cities.

The NACTO report notes that closer collaboration with governments tends to yield better results, and “long-term contracts between municipalities and private operators yield more sustainable results, while companies with short-term permits easily pull out of cities when financial conditions deteriorate.”

Unsurprisingly, “Key to the success of shared micromobility systems are dedicated, protected bike lanes, NACTO says,” as well as affordable rates and reduced fare options for low-income riders.