REFLECTIONS OF AN
Article by Dr Michael S. Galvin
mobilityserviceslimited.com
PASSING BANDWAGONS
A former colleague and I were recently asked to present a picture of mobility, current and future, to a major corporate, the presentation was received by a global audience. They were keen to understand the mobility scene and how green it really is. It was in the preparation of this presentation that a number of important points sprung out.
The presentation was based on our definition of mobility which included: • mobility as a service (MaaS) • active transport (walking and cycling) • micro mobility (eScooters and eBikes) • electric vehicles (EVs) • shared mobility (car clubs, ride pooling) • demand responsive transport (DRT) • autonomous vehicles • electric, hydrogen powered vehicles • taxis and private hire
Quite a list and at first glance the picture of almost a multi-faceted, exciting revolution in transport taking place, but as we considered each of the activities above the truth was quite a different story. As we explained if this really is a revolution, and it is often referred to as such……it’s a pretty slow one.
MOBILITY AS A SERVICE (MaaS)
To parody Churchill; never has so much been written and spoken about so little! I gave up attending MaaS conferences some seven or so years ago when the revolution was, I believe nine years old.
The vision of one booking channel, one payment method and every type of transport imaginable at your fingertips was in reality just a solution seeking a problem. I suppose the nearest the transport industry has to MaaS is Transport for London (TfL); a single payment solution, Oyster (now Wave technology) and access to multiple but unfortunately not all of TfL’s transport portfolio. Even TfL has hit problems with
6
providing a complete solution and they own, operate, commission and/or license all of it.
Madrid also has a version which appears okay. The rest of the schemes have been bigged up but are relatively small fry with few users and all the problems of integrating disparate suppliers with legacy or in some cases heritage systems, varied fare structures and suppliers’ concerns about cannibalis- ation. And on top of that suppliers who have day jobs and little time, if any, to indulge in the latest craze.
Most types of transport accept cash or credit cards. The business model, like many of these new sexy innovations, largely depends on subsidising journeys to gain market share, a critical mass, blah blah and then….. But, just because technology can do it doesn’t mean people want, will use it or actually need it! As for green its only as green as the content providers that are present on the app.
ACTIVE TRANSPORT
Experts tell me that man has walked for six million years – yet active transport (walking) has been re- branded and celebrated as another exciting innovation, a revolution no less – enough said! It may help people to walk easier were the pavements not littered with bikes and scooters…read on....
Cycling is another wonder of the modern world - funny that, when I was a kid (60 years ago) my dad cycled to work not aware that he was pre revolution or an early adopter. My kids also cycled to school, but now its sexy and virtuous and there is no end to the impact of cycling on other road users. I whole- heartedly support safer cycling but please let’s not impact every other road user in the process.
OCTOBER 2023 PHTM
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82
