Across Europe, a quiet revolution is underway in how people move around cities. Lightweight, shared micro-mobility vehicles like electric scooters and bicycles are emerging as a popular, sustainable alternative to private cars for short urban trips. This micro-mobility boom is poised to reshape urban transportation, offering convenient first-and-last-mile connectivity, reduced emissions and congestion, and increased accessibility to jobs and services.
Shared Bike Systems
Docked and dockless bike-sharing programs have proliferated in cities large and small, putting affordable, eco-friendly transportation within reach of residents and visitors. In China, companies like Mobike and Ofo flooded the market with millions of shared bicycles, dramatically improving access to public transit and jobs.
Beyond Asia, European cities are also embracing bike-sharing. In Paris, Vélib’ has over 20,000 bicycles available at 1,800 stations, while in London, Santander Cycles logged over 10 million trips in 2019. These systems make it easy for people to complete the first or last leg of their journeys by bike, complementing existing public transit networks.
Shared Scooter Services
The micro-mobility revolution has also taken to the streets on two wheels. Electric scooter-sharing, pioneered by startups like Bird and Lime, has swept across Europe, with services now available in major cities like Paris, Madrid, and Berlin. These dockless, app-based systems allow users to pick up a scooter, ride it to their destination, and leave it for the next person.
Scooter-sharing appeals to urban commuters seeking a fun, convenient way to cover short distances. In 2018, there were an estimated 38.5 million e-scooter trips in the US alone. And the trend extends beyond North America—in the first year of operation, Lime users took 34 million trips across its entire platform of bikes, scooters, and other vehicles.
Microtransit Solutions
Micro-mobility isn’t just about individual trips. Some cities are experimenting with microtransit services that use small, flexible vehicles to provide on-demand or circulatory transit options. These systems, often operated in partnership with private providers, can help fill gaps in traditional public transportation, especially in suburban or low-density areas.
For example, Berlin’s Berlkönig project uses a fleet of Mercedes-Benz V-Class vans to provide an app-based, rideshare-like service, complementing the city’s extensive rail and bus network. Similarly, Helsinki’s Kutsuplus pilot used minibuses to offer personalized, dynamically routed transportation. While some early microtransit pilots have struggled, the concept shows promise in improving mobility access.
Impacts on Urban Mobility
The rise of micro-mobility is already transforming urban transportation in Europe and around the world. These new mobility options are having a tangible impact in several key areas.
Reduced Congestion and Emissions
By offering an alternative to private car use for short trips, micro-mobility services can help alleviate urban congestion and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In Portland, Oregon, for example, over a third of e-scooter trips replaced trips that would have been made by car, ride-hailing, or taxi.
Widespread adoption of electric bikes and scooters could significantly cut emissions in cities. A study by the MIT Senseable City Lab found that autonomous e-bike fleets could reduce a city’s transportation emissions by up to 12% compared to traditional bike-sharing.
Improved Connectivity and Access
Micro-mobility excels at solving the “first-and-last-mile” problem, bridging the gap between homes, jobs, and transit hubs. Mobike claims its dockless bike-sharing service has nearly doubled accessibility to key destinations in Beijing by targeting areas underserved by public transit.
These systems can also improve mobility for traditionally underserved communities. Limited surveys suggest e-scooter support is often highest among lower-income users, who may lack access to reliable personal vehicles or robust public transportation.
Shifting Transportation Habits
As micro-mobility options become more ubiquitous, they are starting to change how people think about urban transportation. Over half of car trips in the US are less than 5 miles—distances well-suited for bikes, scooters, and other lightweight vehicles.
A Portland e-scooter pilot found that 34% of participants would have taken a personal car or used ride-hailing if scooters were unavailable. Micro-mobility is proving itself as a viable substitute for short trips, potentially reducing reliance on private automobiles.
Policy and Regulatory Considerations
The rapid, unpredictable growth of micro-mobility has presented challenges for city governments. Dockless bikes and scooters have at times flooded streets and sidewalks, prompting backlash from pedestrians and policymakers. Regulators have had to balance supporting innovation with managing public space and safety.
Infrastructure Adaptations
A key issue has been the integration of micro-mobility into existing transportation infrastructure. In many cities, the lack of dedicated bike lanes or wide shoulders forces scooters and bikes to share space with cars or pedestrians, raising safety concerns.
Addressing this will require rethinking urban design to better accommodate a variety of mobility modes. Some cities, like London and Paris, are investing in protected bike lanes and other infrastructure upgrades to create safer routes for micro-mobility users.
Safety and Liability Concerns
Micro-mobility also faces challenges around rider safety and liability. Media reports of scooter-related injuries have prompted calls for mandatory helmet laws and other safety measures. However, definitive data on injury rates is scarce, making it difficult to assess the true risks.
Regulators are working with providers to improve safety, such as by requiring in-app educational materials or modifying vehicle designs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also launched a study to better understand the public health impacts of e-scooters.
Equity and Accessibility
As micro-mobility services expand, there are concerns about equitable access, especially for low-income or disabled residents. Some providers have struggled to meet city requirements for vehicle access in underserved neighborhoods.
Policymakers are pushing for micro-mobility systems to serve all communities. Requirements for discounted fares, adaptive vehicle designs, and geographical coverage targets aim to ensure these new mobility options benefit everyone, not just the tech-savvy or well-off.
The Future of Micro-Mobility
The micro-mobility revolution is still in its infancy, but the pace of innovation and adoption suggests these shared, lightweight vehicles will play an increasingly prominent role in urban transportation.
Technological Advancements
Ongoing technological developments will likely make micro-mobility even more appealing. Autonomous bicycle systems, for example, could dramatically improve the efficiency and sustainability of bike-sharing by reducing the need for manual rebalancing.
Innovations in battery technology, lightweight materials, and vehicle design will also enhance the user experience. Longer-range, more durable electric scooters and e-bikes could extend the reach of micro-mobility beyond city centers.
Integration with Public Transit
As micro-mobility becomes more embedded in urban transportation networks, seamless integration with traditional public transit will be crucial. Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) platforms that allow users to plan, book, and pay for multimodal trips could make it easier to combine buses, trains, bikes, and scooters.
Some cities are already experimenting with micro-mobility hubs that co-locate shared bikes, scooters, and other modes with transit stations. This could make it simpler for residents to access the full range of mobility options.
Sustainable Urban Planning
Looking ahead, micro-mobility may reshape the physical design of cities themselves. As private car use declines, there may be opportunities to repurpose parking lots and roadways for pedestrian zones, green spaces, or other community uses.
Integrated land use and transportation planning that prioritizes bike-, scooter-, and transit-friendly development could foster more walkable, livable urban environments. Cities committed to ambitious climate and sustainability goals may find micro-mobility an important tool in their toolkits.
The micro-mobility revolution is just getting started, but its disruptive potential is already clear. As European cities continue to invest in and regulate these new mobility services, they have a chance to build more sustainable, accessible, and people-centered transportation systems for the future. The European Future Energy Forum will be a key venue for policymakers, industry leaders, and other stakeholders to discuss the role of micro-mobility in the broader transition to clean, efficient urban mobility.