Micro eMobility Consultancy

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Electric bicycles represent one of the most significant opportunities for a micromobility future. They allow a wider range of users to access individual mobility with all the time savings and many of the health benefits that entails. E-bike sales and maintenance offer commercial opportunities, as do shared dockless bike schemes, most of which feature e-bikes or are moving in this direction. In London, the Jump (Uber), Bird, Lime and Freebike dockless schemes are all based on e-bike rentals.

In 2018, 70,000 e-bikes were sold in the UK and this figure is increasing each year. Based on company data, population figures, decreasing rates of car registration, and the latest market statistics, one of the UK firm is predicting 1.5 million e-bike sales by 2050. Dockless bike programs across the world are increasingly electric only. An e-bike trial with employees in Brighton noted an average use of 15-20 miles per week, with a corresponding 20% reduction in vehicle miles travelled. Further, a CoMoUK survey found “shared e-bike schemes support users to cycle to work more frequently.”

Originally gaining recognition for their success in the likes of San Francisco, Barcelona, and Paris, electric scooters have become a common sight in the UK, especially in major cities such as London.

Whilst they can be purchased from a wide variety of online retailers, they are also more frequently becoming available in cycle stores across the UK who have been quick to jump on the fast-growing market.

Mobility as a Service (MaaS) is a term used to describe digital transport service platforms that enable users to access, pay for, and get real-time information on, a range of public and private transport options. These platforms may also be linked to the provision of new transport services and have the potential to help current shared mobility business models evolve with constant technology innovations.

The provision of MaaS is challenging the balance between private cars and public transport. Ride-sharing services have demonstrated car ownership can decline when travellers’ needs are satisfied. MaaS will continue to disrupt urban mobility because of its highly adaptable platform and easy customisation component.

The UK, along with Finland, Germany and France, is one of the leading countries in the MaaS space in Europe, driven by a well-functioning public transport network, government support, and free access to public transport data.

Pop-up mobility services are flourishing around UK cities, providing a useful asset for Local Authorities (LAs) and extending the provision of public transport services.

The UK Connected Places Catapult has identified Mobility-as-a-service as the fastest transport growth area where the UK has a strong opportunity to make an impact.