Micromobility and the Built Environment

Abstract

Within a remarkably short time, a wide range of small scale, short-range transportation options have catapaulted themselves into the urban environment throughout the US and the world. Incorporating these micromobility vehicles into the existing built environment poses several uniquely human opportunities and challenges. They hold out the promise of meeting the classic first mile/last mile transit access problem, but confusion remains about the best place for their use, parking, storage, and operations. This presentation will summarize a vehicle categorization scheme and an urban audit process to support urban designers and engineers as they incorporate this challenging opportunity into their community. It will also touch on specific vehicle design details that are critical to user safety. A discussion of potential options for behavioral modification using software platforms and vehicle hardware will also be provided. The presentation will conclude with design, planning, and policy recommendations for supporting micromobiltiy appropriately.