Micro-mobility: Shaping the Future of Urban Transit
Pedalling a greener road for traffic-choked cities and the need for a more inclusive urban landscape
Micro-mobility holds a real promise for traffic-choked mega-cities to pave the way for greener futures but the need for more coordination between cities, operators and public transit agencies is crucial.
Our May event held at TAS sparked vibrant discussions on integration of micro-mobility options in our urban landscape featuring Lanrick Bennett Jr from Charlie’s FreeWheels, David Lepofsky, Chair, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance (AODAA), and Kevin McLaughlin from Zygg.
For interested Torontonians, you would want to be interested in the micro-mobility strategy that City Council directed the staff to develop in July 2023, its existing rules, pilot projects and ways to get involved.
🚲 CAR-FREE LIFE
Realistically Speaking, Can We Transition to Micro-mobility First Lifestyle?
Most definitely, says Lanrick Bennett Jr, the Executive Director of Charlie's FreeWheels and Toronto’s first Bicycle Mayor.
The Danforth resident and his family have successfully transitioned into a micro-mobility-first lifestyle. After having run errands of all kinds, from grocery pickups to IKEA hauls with small trailers, the cargo eBike you see in the picture above is now Lanrick’s preferred mode of transport along with public transport.
He is ready to part ways with his car and use a car-rental service for long-distance trips like those outside the city. As Lanrick aims to inspire those who’ve been on the fence about making the transition, he also urges the climate-conscious citizens to voice their needs louder to the authorities for making Toronto safer and beneficial for micro-mobility.
Calling for need of more political will, Lanrick shares that for Toronto to join the ranks of Copenhagen, Paris, Amsterdam, and Berlin, we need to more incentives to switch to eBikes, a better network of bike lanes, protected lanes for heightened safety and increased integration with public transport.
Event to look out for: Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area is celebrating June 2024 as Bike Month. If you’re interested in discovering your neighbourhood on two wheels, check out Bike Month 2024.
Charlie’s Freewheels uses bicycles to support the development of empowered young leaders, and self-assured young cyclists. They do this by improving youth access to bicycles, facilitating bicycle-related skill development, and inspiring youth to ride with confidence.
👨🦯 RISKY SILENCE
Can the Silent High-Speed Movement of e-Scooters Endanger Lives?
Despite their potential to reduce emissions and alleviate traffic congestion, micro-mobility solutions, in particular e-scooters, can cause unintended consequences, particularly for vulnerable groups like seniors and people with disabilities.
As David Lepofsky, Chair, AODA promptly highlights,"They often operate silently at high speeds, appearing out of nowhere and endangering pedestrians, especially those who are visually impaired or have mobility issues”.
Why it matters:
The issues raised by David and the community are a reminder that strong support for micro-mobility should focus on inclusive and safe alternatives such as eBikes, which offer similar environmental benefits without compromising pedestrian safety.
Policies need to prioritize infrastructure that supports safe, accessible urban environments for all residents. For instance, integrating protected bike lanes and ensuring e-scooters are not left obstructing pathways can help mitigate risks, insists David. Cities like Copenhagen have demonstrated, thoughtful urban planning can enhance mobility and sustainability without introducing hazards associated with e-scooters.
City of Toronto’s Stance:
As of today, the city maintains its ban on e-scooters, concluding that they pose a real danger to safety and accessibility for vulnerable members of the public, including people with disabilities. That there is no effective way to protect the public from these dangers short of banning them.
🔋 POWERED PEDALS
Are eBikes the EVs Our Cities Actually Need?
“eBikes offer the convenience of cars without the associated environmental and infrastructural burdens”, argues Kevin McLaughlin, CEO of Zygg, an electric bike subscription service.
eBikes, distinct from electric kick-scooters, are pedal-assisted bicycles with electric motors that augment human power. They present a sustainable urban transportation solution by reducing traffic congestion and emissions. eBikes are suitable for short to medium distances, offering an eco-friendly alternative to cars.
But studies[1] suggest there’s work to be done to make them more than their current fad status.
Key Points to Ensure Success:
Robust Infrastructure: Developing dedicated bike lanes, secure parking, and charging stations is crucial. Cities like Utrecht have successfully integrated extensive cycling infrastructure.
Government Incentives: Financial incentives and subsidies boost eBike adoption. For example, Germany offers up to €1,500 for eCargo bikes.
Public Awareness and Education: Educating the public on eBike benefits, such as cost savings and environmental impact, increases adoption.
Fun Fact: Bike Share Toronto currently provides a shared fleet of over 9,000 bikes at over 700 stations spanning Toronto’s cycling network. In addition, 1,300 new e-bikes are being introduced to its network with a target of 2,000 e-bikes by 2025. It’s adding stations in the north, east and west, and expanding supply at TTC subway stations.
Sources: [1] Fraunhofer ISI - 1, Fraunhofer ISI - 2, BCG, McKinsey & Co.
💰GENEROUS SUPPORT
Thank you TAS and Climate North regulars for your support!
Our location sponsor for the second time this year, TAS, is a Certified B Corporation and industry leader in real estate impact investing and development, pursuing opportunities that create value while generating positive and measurable social and environmental impact.
In addition, we’d like to extend a big thank you to all of you who supported us with your tickets for the last event. Your contributions help us to grow and evolve so that we can better provide for our community.
🗓️ UPCOMING EVENT
Keep an eye out!
Next month we will reunite on June 25th, so save the date and stay tuned for all the deets.
🤝 ASKS
Lend a helping hand:
Climate North is small but mighty and we’re always open to any volunteer support. We are currently in need of support with:
Speaker Coordinator and Recommendations
Event Sponsorship
If you’re interested, please write to us at hello@climatenorth.com expressing which you would be interested in supporting us with.
Spread the word: Everytime you share this newsletter with your network or bring along a plus one to our events, you exercise your power of influence in making our world more sustainable. Thank you for putting your force behind us.
We’re built for our community, by our community… Any help is appreciated :)
Thanks for your ongoing support! See you in June :)
Rebeka (Becky) Romanovsky, Fab Barrillot, Chloe D'Agostini
Written by Tejas Shah
Pictures by Varun Dhanwantri