From e-bikes to electric wheelchairs, small, lightweight vehicles are making a noticeable impact on the mobility tech landscape — and urban life. With growing adoption and innovation, it’s clear that the micromobility movement is doing more than changing the way we get from point A to point B; it’s paving the way for more connected, accessible, and eco-friendly cities.
Imagine a world where you don’t have to battle traffic, where public transportation is within reach even if you’re not right by a station, and where getting to your destination takes just minutes — without the headache of finding parking. That’s the promise of micromobility, the rapidly growing sector transforming the way we get around. With a projected $300 billion global market value by 2030 and 157 shared micromobility trips taken across the U.S. and Canada in 2023 alone, micromobility isn’t a buzzword; it’s a paradigm shift in urban transportation that’s reshaping our cities and creating unexpected, exciting possibilities.
What is Micromobility?
Micromobility refers to small, lightweight vehicles designed for short trips and driven by users. For city dwellers, scooters and bikes available to rent via mobile app have become quite popular. But micromobility tech includes a variety of other vehicles, like e-bikes, scooters, electric wheelchairs, and even more unique devices like electric unicycles (EUCs). Whether personally owned or part of a shared fleet, electric or not, these solutions offer an efficient, cost-effective, and flexible transportation option.
What Problems Can Micromobility Solve?
Micromobility solutions are already addressing the often-overlooked “first and last mile” problem — connecting your starting point with public transit and, ultimately, your destination. With scooters, e-bikes, and the like available to rent on city streets (and portable options like folding bikes available to purchase), people who don’t live in close proximity to public bus and train systems can use these resources.
Beyond expanding access to public transportation, micromobility has the potential to enhance accessibility by helping individuals with mobility challenges navigate cities more freely. For example, powered wheelchairs and three- and four-wheeled mobility scooters enhance independence for those who need adaptive devices, and e-bikes and scooters can reduce the physical strain required to operate their non-motorized counterparts, making them easier for older adults or individuals with disabilities to operate.
Micromobility options are also becoming more widely accessible in urban areas, offering underserved communities a way to take greater ownership of their mobility and travel further. Since the upfront and operating costs of these smaller vehicles are typically less than the costs of owning a car or taking rideshare (the average 12-minute scooter share trip costs $2.80-$4.70), micromobility can help bridge transit gaps and offer more affordable, reliable transportation for people who might otherwise face limited options. Many micromobility providers have already realized the potential their solutions have to increase transportation equity, and are offering discounted fare structures, non-smartphone access, and credit-free options to serve lower-income and unbanked riders.
On the sustainability front, micromobility solutions have helped reduce traffic (and by association, emissions) in some cities that have embraced them. One example is Atlanta, which saw a 9-11% increase in travel times for daily commuting and a 37% increase during large events when micromobility devices were made unavailable in 2019.
With their smaller footprint and rising popularity, micromobility solutions are also prompting cities to rethink their infrastructure. It’s not just about adding more bike lanes —there’s a growing need to evaluate how land is used, consider converting car lanes into dedicated paths for smaller vehicles, and redesign sidewalks to accommodate a mix of transportation options. Cities like Milan, Brussels, and Seattle are already leading the way with these forward-thinking policies.
Infrastructure changes can also have a surprising impact on housing affordability. Parking lots and spaces take up a significant portion of urban land, and by reducing or eliminating parking requirements, valuable real estate can be freed up for new housing or community resources — creating a ripple effect that improves city life in multiple ways.
What’s New in Micromobility Tech?
Like many other types of consumer technology, connectivity is becoming a defining feature of modern micromobility solutions. The integration of advanced software offers users seamless navigation, as well as cost estimation and real-time vehicle inventory for rented devices. These connected features not only make micromobility more user-friendly, but also allow operators to better manage vehicle fleets, optimizing availability and uptime. As smart city technology continues to evolve, these features will likely expand, creating an even more integrated urban mobility ecosystem.
What’s Next for Micromobility?
There’s no question that micromobility is more than a trend — it’s a fast-growing movement that’s transforming how we navigate urban environments. With tech advancements and infrastructure changes paving the way, micromobility will play a major role in shaping the cities of the future, bringing us all closer to a world with less traffic, more flexibility, enhanced transportation equity, and greener ways to get around.
See It at CES
Discover the innovations moving micromobility forward at CES. The world’s most powerful tech event provides unmatched opportunities to experience solutions for every part of the mobility landscape, including the latest launches from companies like these:
- Okai. Founded “with a vision of redefining transportation,” California-based Okai recently introduced its Visual Algorithm Technology, which uses sound wave prompts to recognize traffic conditions and the movement of vehicles and pedestrians.
- AIMA. This e-mobility leader’s latest style, the Santa Monica e-bike, is said to feature the world’s strongest and lightest 750-watt cruise motor.
- Inmotion Technologies. In addition to its electric scooters, unicycles, and balance boards, Inmotion offers consumers a way to convert internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to electric (even short-range vehicles like golf carts!) with its next-gen converters and inverters.
