Micro-mobility operators unite to advise European cities on integration

Credit: TIER Mobility

Five operators of shared e-scooters and e-bikes have published 10 recommendations for European cities to better integrate shared micro-mobility vehicles onto their streets. Global micro-mobility operators Dott, Lime, Superpedestrian, TIER Mobility and Voi Technology have collaborated to create a framework, in a first for the industry.

The recommendations reflect the expertise gained from the operators’ combined knowledge. Together, the five companies operate over three quarters of a million vehicles across 37 countries.

In order to help cities succeed with lowering air pollution and providing a strong alternative to individual cars and a complement to public transport, the five operators have put forward 10 recommendations across two main themes – defining the best environment the service should function in and highlighting the best way to regulate programmes to be financially sustainable over the long-term.

The companies make recommendations on fleet sizes and vendor contract length, tying these factors to greater reliability for frequent riders, such as those who use the services for commutes to work or university. The recommendations suggest that the addition of new vehicles to city streets should be directly tied to the operators’ performance, keeping city streets tidy and well-maintained.

Dott to double e-scooter lifespan and cut carbon emissions by 50%

The framework makes more technical recommendations on data sharing protocols, vendor fees and vendor selection protocols, encouraging cities to consider reliability, safety, sustainability and fleet management as the top selection criteria. Once vendors are selected to serve the city, the recommendations suggest operating areas contiguous with city boundaries where possible, with speeds between 20-25km/h and ample parking.

Finally, the operators advice to continuously improve rider experience to ensure people shift to sustainable, shared and zero-carbon emission transportation for good. Among the recommendations focused on rider experience, it includes contract terms long enough for riders to become familiar with a brand’s service and rely on it, contiguous coverage areas so that riders are not stopped mid-journey, and practical parking schemes which allow riders to park at their destination.

What will matter, according to the industry group, is that cities read, consider and ultimately implement the recommendations that have been set forth by the companies.

Henri Moissinac, CEO of Dott; Wayne Ting, CEO of Lime; Assaf Biderman, CEO of Superpedestrian; Lawrence Leuschner, CEO of TIER Mobility; and Fredrik Hjelm, CEO of Voi, said: “In pretty short time, the micro-mobility industry experienced huge growth, providing the strongest challenge yet to personal car use in cities. To ensure ongoing sustainability and global consistency, we combined our expertise to develop recommendations to cities that we believe are best practices for regulating micro-mobility programmes. We have created a strong framework that has the potential to greatly improve the micro-mobility experience for riders and non-riders alike, allowing cities to experience the best of what our services provide.”