Urban transport is changing rapidly, in line with increasing environmental awareness, but also because of various economic factors. And even if some look at the recent invasion of scooters with a degree of perplexity, the adoption of sustainable alternatives to private cars is not a passing fad, but a trend that will continue and expand. The driving force behind this little green “revolution” are, as is often the case, American technology startups, whose business models have rapidly established themselves in the rest of the world. Sharing scooters, segways, mopeds, bicycles, and electric cars, is proving more convenient than buying them. Those who are not completely sure whether they want to adopt this type of vehicle for urban transport – or do not want to risk investing in a vehicle that could be stolen or damaged – prefer to pay for its use rather than purchasing one of their own. This also allows the user to test specific types of vehicles, without significant economic investment, to get a clearer idea of their usefulness or comfort. So how is the urban transport landscape evolving? There are several factors to take into account.
Are we really all going to move around on segways? Spoiler alert: no
2020 was a very unusual year, in which time expanded. What does this have to do with urban transport? Quite a lot, as not everyone realises that the explosion of light vehicles, such as push scooters and segways, took place between spring and summer, i.e. in particularly favourable conditions for this type of vehicle. To achieve mass adoption, however, sustainable mobility should include vehicles suitable for all seasons, for all types of travel, and all types of people. It is difficult to think, for example, that push scooters can replace cars and traditional public transport in winter in the regions of central and northern Europe. The answer to this particular problem could be small electric cars and car-sharing. Studies on the environmental impact of urban transport in recent years will show whether or not these trends have taken hold.
Infrastructure needs to adapt to changing urban transport
However, bicycles, push scooters, and electric cars have proven not to be equally popular in all cities. A determining factor in this respect is the adequacy of the infrastructure. In cities that boast a wide and extensive network of cycle paths, of course, users feel much more comfortable cycling than elsewhere. In the same way, the use of electric cars, both owned and shared, is conditioned by the availability of recharging stations. This is a perfect example of how it is not only individual choices that determine whether or not eco-sustainable practices are adopted, but also policies and investments on a large scale.