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

  • Cubic wins mobile ticketing contract for Rhein-Sieg Region, Germany
    November 24, 2017
    Cubic Transportation Systems (CTS) has been awarded a mobile ticketing contract for Germany’s Rhein-Sieg area which includes Cologne, to enable customers to purchase tickets and manage their online accounts. It will support transport operator Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe AG (KVB) is valued €920,000 (£819,000) for five years plus an estimated €600,000 (£534,000) in transaction fees.
    Read More
  • Road user charging - replacing the gas tax with a mileage based fee
    January 19, 2012
    Oregon Department of Transportation's James Whitty discusses his state's progress with VMT fee-based charging. Back in 2001, the state of Oregon stole a lead on the rest of the US when it decided to address the need to do something about the gas tax and its decreasing ability to fund highway construction and upkeep. Recognising that a dwindling pot of money could only shrink further as vehicles became more fuelefficient, Oregon's Legislative Assembly passed laws which led to the setting up, by the state's g
    Read More
  • Florida’s Altamonte Springs uses Uber pilot program with Uber to expand transportation coverage
    April 5, 2017
    To Uber or Not to Uber, that is the question cities must answer as they consider the pros and cons of inviting private transportation service providers to fill transportation gaps. Back in 1999, Frank Martz, city manager of Altamonte Springs, Florida, had an idea to expand transportation services to areas not covered by the local bus company.
    Read More
  • San Francisco bans facial recognition
    July 23, 2019
    San Francisco has become the first US city to ban facial recognition software – and it is a move which has implications for transit agencies as well as police forces worldwide Big Brother is watching you’, goes the famous saying. Well, not in San Francisco he isn’t. Legislators in the Californian city – home to the tech gold rush and embracers of all things forward-looking – have decided that, after all, there should be limits to technology’s hold over us. By a margin of eight votes to one, the city’s
    Read More

Highlighted Content