International
World Micromobility News: Articles of interest to our readers pertaining to the latest news, views and trends overseas.
We cover countries leading the way in micromobility in terms of manufacturing, policy and global influence.
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At A Glance – Ebike Sales Boom in Europe
Europe The data below shows the number of ebikes sold in calendar year 2020 and the percentage growth over 2019 sales. Average growth year on year across these countries was 36%. Country Number of Ebikes Sold % increase YOY Germany 1.9 million +43% Netherlands 547,000 +30% France 514,000 +29% Italy 280,000 +44% Spain 212,635 +49%…
Cyclists Demand Access to Auckland Harbour Bridge
Auckland, New Zealand Not unlike Sydney, Auckland is a city on two sides of a large harbour that is crossed by a single, iconic bridge. Needless to say, that eight lane bridge is extremely busy. But unlike Sydney, Auckland’s Harbour Bridge provides no lanes or access for pedestrians and cyclists whatsoever. On Sunday 30th May…
Should Motor Vehicles Get a Safety Warning Label?
New York, USA Targeting large pickup trucks and SUVs, a New York bill proposes a safety rating system that would rank vehicles on the dangers they pose to pedestrians and cyclists. A bill in the New York State senate would establish a statewide pedestrian and cyclist vehicle safety rating system — the first of its…
The Stark Politics of Vehicle Choice Revealed
San Diego, California In wealthy western countries, apart from avid cyclists and inner city dwellers of major cities, most residents are virtually compelled by their nation’s planning decisions and resultant built environment, to purchase and drive some sort of vehicle, at least for some of their journeys. We’ve seen interesting studies before about personality characteristics of typical purchasers of certain…
Another Bike Share Scheme Launches in New York City
New York City, New York, USA In New York City, the dominant micromobility option is Citi Bike, the official bike-sharing system of the city. Other transit alternatives aren’t as easy to come by, thanks to complex permit processes for companies looking to station vehicles in public spaces. E-scooter companies Bird, Lime, and Veo, for instance, will launch…
Shimano Launches First e-Cargo Specific Drive Units
Osaka, Japan On 27 April Shimano announced the launch of two new e-Cargo drive unit models, advancing its position in the e-Bike market. The EP8 and E6100 cargo-specific drive units come with built-in features designed for powering heavy loads. The two models, which previously existed for other bicycle types, will now come in specific cargo variations known as…
China’s Largest Bike Share Files for USA Float
China Hello, China’s largest bike-share provider, recently filed information in preparation for its U.S. IPO (initial public offering). After three consecutive years of losses, the Ant-backed micromobility giant plans to raise as much as US$1 billion (A$1.3 billion) through its public offering. As of the end of 2020, Hello had 10 million two-wheelers across 400 cities with approximately 100m active users in China. In 2020 it facilitated 5.1 billion bike trips, generating an average of US$0.17 (A$0.22) per ride –…
New York City and London Commence Scooter Trials
New York City, New York, USA and London, UK New York City’s days as one of the last remaining holdouts in the dockless electric scooter boom is finally at an end. The city’s Department of Transportation (DOT) announced the selection of Bird, Lime, and VeoRide as the participants in its inaugural e-scooter pilot. The companies are expected to…
Latest Data Documents Massive Cycling Growth in UK
London, UK Pedal cycles travelled five billion miles (8 billion kilometres) on Great Britain’s roads in 2020, 45.7% further than in the previous year, according to statistics from the UK’s Department for Transport (DfT). This is the highest level of cycling on public roads since the 1960s, the DfT said. Pedal cycle traffic saw its highest monthly levels in 2020 during April and May,…
