INDUSTRY EXPERT
A few useful stats: • there are more bikes than cars in Copenhagen • 43% of Dutch people cycle everyday vs 4% of English
• cycling in the UK represents 2% of non- motorway traffic and is plateauing.
So, a small but growing revolution and one of the few that is actually green.
MICRO MOBILITY (eSCOOTERS AND eBIKES)
I suppose most revolutions are based on a maverick approach to the law, social norms and structures, and this certainly is one. Micro mobility underlines the ‘law is an ass’ mantra – it is illegal to use one (that is not part of a hire scheme) but not to buy one…incredible!
There is no noticeable enforcement, just an acceptance that people whizzing around on privately owned scooters is fun, harmless and even a green alternative to commuting. I suppose the accidents and injuries are collateral damage, a constant in most revolutions and the fact that hire (legal) versions are abandoned all over the footpaths or end up in canals is just a price worth paying. But for what?
eBikes I guess have their fans but surely the idea of cycling is primarily to get from A to B, but also perhaps to enjoy some exercise. One out of two is probably not a bad ratio. But once again the hire versions of these devices are dumped all over the public realm with no effective action taken to sanction those responsible. The requirement for bays to return hired bikes is recently seen as expensive, cumbersome and slowing the progress of deployment but ebikes dumped all over the pavement are I guess..…progress?
The disabled appear to be forgotten in this particular revolution, not only can many with sensory or physical impairment not use them, but they also have to suffer the danger of falling over the devices when walking or having the pavement obstructed so that wheelchair and mobility scooter use is made far more difficult than it needs to be.
Paris has voted to ban eScooters and Italy is restrict- ing speeds. We just run pilots and ignore their illegal use and the impact of littering – hail the revolution!
PHTM OCTOBER 2023
And their green credentials are sadly lacking – eScooters have an average three-month life.
ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Don’t get me started! I’ll pass on this one as I have written quite enough in this and other publications about the EV press releases and sound bites vs reality.
A statistic: there are 840k EVs on the road in the UK out of 32m vehicles. And a few more: • 25% of electric charging points are out of action at any one time
• 65% of drivers have no charging access at home • On street charging costs 85p per KwH (quadrupled in cost)
• Charging infrastructure is significantly behind what is needed
• Government is using legislation (stick) to increase take up
• Carrots are in short supply! Another slow revolution. SHARED MOBILITY
Local councils appear to consider community car club schemes to be beyond virtuous. They provide parking spaces for them and promote their use. The truth is that there are 5,000 vehicles involved in them across the UK and 3,200 of them are in London. They spend most of the day parked at the side of the road and since one of the leading brands moved to all EVs, weekend hirings have fallen off a cliff. Who wants to pick up a half-charged vehicle on a Friday afternoon and then queue on the motorway for hours to charge the thing?
7
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
