The Micro-mobility Movement: Reshaping Urban Travel

Like many other things during the pandemic, public transportation came to a halt. As a substitute, many major cities were pushed to send out fleets of e-bikes and e-scooters. According to an NBC News article, “Covid fueled the rise of the e-bike. See where ridership grew in the U.S.”, e-bike riders can easily reach speeds of up to 15 miles per hour due to the electric motor that accelerates as the biker continues to pedal forward. This has helped people commute longer distances in shorter amounts of time and has become an efficient way to get to work or school.

Yet e-bikes also have their disadvantages. Especially amongst college campuses, there have been several bans put out on e-bikes and other “micro-mobility” transit devices. The danger of e-bikes and e-scooters lies in their usage and their storage. Inside Higher End’s article, “E-Scooters Spark New Safety Concerns Across Campuses”, reported that the lithium-ion batteries in micro-mobility devices are dangerous to charge and store. These batteries are prone to explosions and can cause fires. Additionally, in enclosed spaces, like when charging, lithium-ion can release a toxic gas. Besides the battery, accidents can be easily caused by e-bikes. Losing control of the bike can cause damage to the rider or pedestrians nearby. Bans across college campuses range from certain areas of the campus to absolute ones. For example, some colleges allow the usage of e-bikes only in bike lanes. At other schools, including Indiana University, regulations were put in place to prevent micromobility usage between certain hours. This is to prevent possible DUIs and ensure student safety.

Consumers want to feel confident in their bikes. Starting from a young age, learning how to ride a bike was a daunting task. Developing trust and a sense of comfort on a bicycle took time and practice. Yet, as e-bikes are gaining popularity, manufacturers are making them more appealing. By making the bike lighter, high tech, easier to use, more accessible, and sleek, people will start to perceive and treat the e-bike as something they value greatly, similar to their car.

Compared to a car, e-bikes are an affordable alternative. For example, in Chicago, the cost to ride an e-bike includes a $3.30 flat fee with a 20 cents per minute charge. Additionally, e-bike companies have also come out with membership packages that eliminate the fee and lower the rate per minute for regular e-bike users. In comparison to the money spent on gas or Uber and Taxi fares, e-bikes save the consumer a lot of money. This cheap cost, along with benefits to the environment by minimizing carbon footprint, has brought recognition and popularity to e-bikes. They are taking over major cities like Nashville, Tennessee, and Madison, Wisconsin whose bike programs have replaced their entire fleets with electric bikes.

E-bikes offer a creative and cheap way to get to places. They have the potential to be the future of sustainable transportation by eliminating the use of petroleum burning and the emission of greenhouse gasses. Additionally, e-bikes offer an affordable alternative to other modes of transportation, including cars, buses, or ride-shares like Uber. From college students looking to save money to adults on their way to work, e-bikes suit everyone’s needs and their popularity will only continue to grow.