You have probably seen an electric scooter wiz by, especially if you live in a metro area or near a college campus. When we talk about micromobility, we refer to e-scooters, and more! In cities across the U.S., shared micromobility is a popular and growing form of transportation, often replacing short car trips and expanding the options for how people get around.
The National Associate of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), releases an annual report on shared micromobility. In 2023, they reported 133 million micromobility trips were taken in the U.S., increasing 16% since the previous year. Atlanta is ranked among the top 10 cities for shared micromobility, exceeding 2 million trips in the last two years. (ATLDOT, 2024). As the usage numbers continue to grow, it is important to understand what these vehicles are and how to use them safely.
"Between January 2021 and May 2024, Atlanta’s dockless shared micromobility trips equaled more than 36 trips to the moon, 341 trips around the Earth, or 386,074 trips around the completed BeltLine." -ATLDOT, 2024
Micromobility refers to small, lightweight vehicles driven by users personally for small-scale trips, averaging about 1.5 miles. Micromobility vehicles can be shared scooters or bikes, boosted boards, privately owned scooters, and small-scale conveyance. These conveyances can make a long walk on both sides of a destination less daunting, get you home in case of bad weather or an unexpected situation, and make moving quick and fun!
There are some basic steps you can take to stay safe while utilizing micromobility options. Wear a helmet, ride cautiously, & be aware of your surroundings. Don’t ride with headphones covering both of your ears or without watching where you’re going. Follow traffic signals regardless of whether you ride on the sidewalk or the road. If you’re riding significantly faster than pedestrians, you should ride in bike lanes or the lane of traffic. If you only feel safe on the sidewalk, it’s best to slow down to reduce injuring other people using the space at slower paces.
If you own your micromobility vehicle and are not utilizing shared devices, you may need to maintain certain elements of its upkeep. First, be sure to lock it securely when you leave it alone. Use a U-lock or chain to wrap tightly around parts of the vehicle that are integral and sandwiched between larger parts (i.e.: through the wheel housing of a scooter). Be sure that whatever you lock it to is fixed to the ground and that the lock cable is not simply worked off the top of it. Check the battery periodically for signs of wear and tear or swelling, and always charge as advised.
