Infrastructure
This category includes any product or service that enables micromobility.
Paris is Re-Proving ‘Build it and They Will Come!’
Cycling advocates around the world know that if they can overcome entrenched resistance and actually get protected facilities installed, the riders will come.
Now a recent study by the Paris city government has found that new cyclists account for almost six in ten users of pop-up cycle lanes in Paris, installed first in response to a public transport strike last winter with the network subsequently enlarged due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The study also revealed that prior to the pop-up bike lanes being put in place, women made up 36 per cent of cyclists in Paris, which has now risen to 41 per cent.
NSW Abandons E-scooter Trial – Minister ‘Not in the Mood’
The NSW government has abandoned plans for an electric scooter trial in Sydney despite a national push to legalise the mobility devices.
Electric scooters are illegal on roads and footpaths in NSW, but sales continue to grow.
Transport Minister Andrew Constance says he was “not in the mood” to have e-scooters on Sydney streets, even though his department ran a lengthy process recommending conditions for holding a trial.
Lime to Invest $64 Million Into Ebike Share as it Eyes Float
Market leading Lime is getting back to its roots. The scooter company formerly known as LimeBike announced in late February 2021 that it will invest US$50 million (A$64 million) to grow its shared electric bicycle network, including adding a new model of bike and doubling the number of cities in which it operates.
Lime got its start with shared bikes, only to quickly pivot after Bird first introduced the concept of dockless electric scooters in 2017. The company dropped the ‘bike’ from its name and started phasing out its bikes in 2019. But the following year, Lime acquired bike-share company Jump from Uber, and suddenly, bikes were back on the menu.
What a Difference a Decade Makes!
Toronto is the largest city in Canada with a greater urban area population of over five million. Rob Ford was Mayor of Toronto from December 2010 to 2014. During this time he was one of the most vehement and outspoken opponents of cycling in any major city in the western world.
Ford spoke out against cyclists sharing roads with motorists, which he said were, “…built for buses, cars, and trucks, not for people on bikes.” As councillor, Ford opposed the installation of bike lanes on University Avenue and Jarvis Street.
German Climate Package Earmarks $1.38 Billion for Cycling
Germany’s federal government has announced that will be investing 900 million Euro (A$1.38 billion) into cycling as part of its national climate protection programme. The largest portion will be funded through a €660 million (A$1 billion) ‘City and Country-side’ (‘Stadt und Land’) program, which was officially published on 25 January by the Federal Ministry of Transportation. The investments in both urban and rural infrastructure are intended to help unleash the potential of cycling for climate-friendly transportation across the country.
Major Scooter Companies Launch Industry Coalition
E-scooter operators have come together to form a new coalition, Micromobility for Europe (MMfE), which launched officially on 2nd February 2021.
Comprised of eight founding members, Bird, Bolt, Dott, FreeNow, Lime, Tier, Voi, and Wind, the coalition aims to contribute to the development of a coherent policy framework in Europe that will ensure micromobility solutions flourish in European cities and support the rapid transition to zero-emission urban mobility.
Over 900% Return On Investment in Active Travel
A new research paper by a trio of leading transport academics has found an economic benefit to the tune of £724 million has been recognised on £80 million in active travel investment.
Authored by University of Westminster Professor of Transport Rachel Aldred, Dr James Woodcock and Dr Anna Goodman, the paper is titled: ‘Major investment in active travel in outer London: impacts on travel behaviour, physical activity and health.’
Chinese Bikeshare Company Looks Set to Raise $1.3 Billion
Qingju, which is the bike sharing unit of Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing as raised US$600 million (A780 million) in its Series B round of financing and is set to raise a further US$400 million (A$520 million) in loans, according to the financial media site Deal Street Asia.
A Didi spokesperson said, “Didi Bike (Qingju) has recently completed a Series B fundraising round. With the new investment, we will continue to improve mid and short distance travel in cities, by providing efficient, safe and reliable bike sharing services to the users.
Australia Takes a Step Towards Legalising Scooters and Other Micromobility
Canberra, ACT Australia’s National Transport Commission (NTC) has released its recommendations for common micromobility legislation across all Australian States and territories. The recommendations could see electric scooters and other forms of Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs) become legal across Australia in 2021. Australia is one of the world’s laggards in adopting progressive legislation to enable a…
Free Planning Guide For Cycle Logistics Hubs Published
Copenhagen / Denmark City Changer Cargo Bike (CCCB) is a collaboration of 20 partners including cities, research institutions, NGOs, and industries from all over Europe in the quest to achieve a faster, more cost-effective and larger-scale deployment of cargo bike based logistics. On 22nd January 2021 CCCB published a comprehensive 28-page guide to different design…