Inrix: micromobility could replace half of US metro car trips

Nearly 50% of all car trips in the most congested US metropolitan areas are less than three miles and could be replaced by micromobility services, says Inrix. The company analysed data points from connected devices to rank the top US, UK and German cities where micromobility services (shared bikes, electric bikes and electric scooters) could have the most significant impact on replacing vehicle trips. Findings from the National Association of City Transportation Officials estimated that scooters are
September 16, 2019 Read time: 2 mins

Nearly 50% of all car trips in the most congested US metropolitan areas are less than three miles and could be replaced by micromobility services, says 163 Inrix.

The company analysed data points from connected devices to rank the top US, UK and German cities where micromobility services (shared bikes, electric bikes and electric scooters) could have the most significant impact on replacing vehicle trips.

Findings from the National Association of City Transportation Officials estimated that scooters are frequently used for trips between half a mile and a mile, whereas bike distances are typically between one mile and three miles.

Inrix revealed Honolulu (Hawaii) could replace 55% of short trips with micromobility services. It is followed by 52% of vehicle trips in New Orleans (Louisiana) and 51% of those in the cities of Nashville (Tennessee), Chicago (Illinois) and Charlotte (North Carolina).

In the UK, the city of Manchester could replace 69% of vehicle trips that are three miles or less with micromobility services. It is followed by Birmingham (69%), Glasgow and London (both 66%) and Sheffield (64%).

Trevor Reed, transportation analyst at Inrix, says “legislation and public education” does not do enough to encourage micromobility.

He insists that the UK government should review options to legalise e-scooters and assess the current opportunities to increase road safety for all users.

“Simultaneously, it’s essential the wide-ranging benefits of micromobility and the cost of vandalism are clearly communicated to the public to ensure the technology is used sustainably,” he continues. “We urge authorities to use more data-based decision making to ensure the smart deployment of these services.”

Figures for Germany revealed Munich as the city with the most potential for micromobility services, with potential for replacing 60% of short-distance vehicle trips. It is followed by Hamburg (59%), Berlin (56%), Frankfurt (55%) and Cologne (51%).

Going forward, Inrix says the success of these offerings will depend on cities having a clear understanding of where micromobility is best positioned to offset vehicle travel as well as having the tools to engage with and manage these services. Cities can utilise trip data and insights to provide a “foundational view” of how people currently move through a city's road network, the company adds.

According to Inrix, cities must integrate private micromobility offerings and address challenges of incorporating app-based services.

Urban Traffic Control

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Truck platooning: the evidence is complex
    February 6, 2020
    A number of claims are made for the value of truck platooning. David Crawford looks at the figures from a new set of examples which suggest that the situation is more complex than you might think
    Read More
  • SCANaCAR and VideoBadge counter parking’s prickly problems.
    June 4, 2014
    Colin Sowman discovers how the latest systems can boost productivity and reduce conflict in parking enforcement. Parking enforcement is something of a ‘Cinderella’ service for local authorities: while necessary to keep the roads open and the traffic flowing, it is an expensive operation and can be loss-making. It is also labour intensive and parking enforcement officers are routinely verbally abused and sometimes physically attacked. Some authorities are now looking to automate parking enforcement in orde
    Read More
  • Roadside infrastructure key to in-vehicle deployment
    November 28, 2013
    The implementation of in-vehicle systems will require multilateral cooperation, as Honda’s Sue Bai explains to Colin Sowman. Vehicle manufacturers will shape the future direction of in-vehicle ITS systems, but they can’t do it on their own. So to find out what they see on the horizon, and the obstacles they face, ITS International spoke to Sue Bai, principal engineer in the Automobile Technology Research Department with Honda R&D Americas. Not only does she play an important role in Honda’s US-based ITS
    Read More
  • Don’t drive drunk – or use a hands-free phone
    August 29, 2019
    Despite law changes, drivers’ bad habits have been creeping back in. TRL’s Dr Shaun Helman tells Adam Hill why using a phone at the wheel is just as distracting as driving after a few drinks esearch from as far back as 2002 (see box) suggests that driving while making a phone call – either hands-free or holding a handset to your ear – creates the same amount of distraction as being drunk behind the wheel. While it is notoriously hard to predict how alcohol will affect an individual (due to the speed of
    Read More

Highlighted Content