A couple of years ago, the first micro-mobility vehicles appeared on the roads. Since then, urban areas and the connecting neighborhoods saw the bloom of new transportation industry. Micro-mobility solutions have brought a significant improvement in people’s lives and also in helping the reduction of pollution.
This article examines the participants on the micro-mobility value chain and how they cooperate to create efficient, convenient, and sustainable transportation networks.
Micro mobility manufacturers & consumer electronics
These two industries work together to create fleets of bikes and electric scooters. With the assistance of customer electronics expert organizations, they ensure that connectivity, batteries, and applications are designed and produced to be suitable (and reliable) to use on roads in traffic.
Local and national government organizations
Governments strive to create a complementary infrastructure to support the seamless operation of micro-mobility vehicles on a local and national level. Roads are built, bike lanes, parking facilities, charging stations, repair shops are established to cater to both the operator brands and the consumers.
Governments install city-wide cameras, tracking systems, applying artificial intelligence, and using big data to analyze the traffic, anticipate and manage congestions, understand where micro-mobility vehicles are most needed. They also monitor the flow of public transportation networks to optimize the opportunities for all participants.
Lastly, governments regulate the use of micro-mobility vehicles and set clear rules and regulations for the users. For example, in many locations, consumers have to have at least 18 years old or have a special permit or license to use the equipment. Regulate parking and bike collection to ensure the unused or dropped off bikes don’t litter the city and create inconvenient roadblocks when handled without care.
Consumers
People living in more remote areas have the opportunity to access the closest transportation hubs with the use of mobility vehicles. People can easily access their first and last mile destinations and access public transportation or ride-sharing opportunities in urban areas. In many cases, people can reduce the use of traditional motor vehicles, which means less time in traffic, lower pollution levels, and a faster and more convenient way of going from A to B.
Mobility operators
Since the appearance of the first micro-mobility vehicles on the roads, many different fleet operator companies have appeared. They fight for the same pool of users, which caused many headaches as cities were not prepared for the fast expansion of these companies and the unregulated use of the bikes. Today, the micro-mobility market is the battle of the fittest. The brands that stay afloat are the ones with the most bikes, the most reliable vehicles, and the most user-friendly operating platforms (apps) operating at the best value.