New Info Briefs from PBIC on Micromobility

December 31, 2019

Cities have recently seen the rise of new options for personal transportation - or "micromobility" - that include devices that are typically low speed, often lightweight, and partially or fully motorized (Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC) 2019; Society of Automotive Engineers, 2019). In order to provide context and insights into their application, the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC) has released two new resources worth exploring:

The Basics of Micromobility and Related Motorized Devices for Personal Tranport

With a surge of new personal transportation devices coming to market, some integrated into shared ride systems (such as bikeshare programs), there is a need to establish a common vocabulary for these options, and provide basic information about how these devices are classified and regulated. This info brief provides an overview of powered forms of micromobility and compares features of micromobility with a spectrum of other traditional and emerging forms of transportation. It references and builds upon micromobility definitions created by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), a standards-developing organization and professional association. Learn more.

E-Scooter Management in Midsized Cities in the United States

This info brief documents practices related to micromobility, specifically e-scooters, in nine midsized US cities. The scan packaged feedback from city staff about challenges and opportunities that emerged with e-scooter adoption including permitting and regulatory issues, potential safety concerns, and infrastructure design observations. It documents anecdotal evidence and noteworthy practices and identifies issues for future discussion. Learn more.

Access other micromobility resources on PBIC.