Intro to Alternative and Last Mile Transportation

 Alternative and Last Mile Transportation

According to New York City Census Data, less than half of households own a car. Many people get around using public transportation like subways and buses. Using public transportation reduces pollution compared to everyone driving fossil fueled vehicles, but it does not solve the carbon footprint issue entirely nor does it always completely solve your transportation needs. What could help with both you ask? Electric alternative transportation is a good place to start. 

Rise of Electric Scooter Shares

If you have been in nearly any major US city in the past 2-3 years, chances are you have seen someone whiz by on an electric scooter they rented using a cellphone. This idea exploded after Bird Rides, Inc. started dumping dockless electric scooters in densely populated California cities back in 2017. The concept of scooters you can pick up, ride, and leave wherever you end of was widely popular to some and hated by others. Controversy aside, the idea grew in popularity and MANY companies sprouted around the country that did the exact same thing. These scooters are known as “last mile transportation” meaning when you get of at your subway or bus stop, you can grab one of these scooters and ride it the last mile or so to your destination. While the idea on paper is great, it can fall apart when there are no scooters to be found with a charge, or perhaps two scooters are available, but you are traveling in a group of 3. Another problem that the scooters have a short lifespan, many of them are vandalized and the ones that do survive are left out in the weather and only last for a few hundred miles of use before being replaced. In fact, one study shows that bird scooters in Louisville over a two month span lasted on average 28 days. These scooters are not very financially viable, nor are they a viable car replacement

What Other Options are out there? 

In the past two decades, Lithium-ion battery technology has advanced greatly as a result of research investments from major automotive manufactures, cell phone manufacturers, and solar power organizations. What does that mean for alternative transportation? It means small vehicles can pack the power needed to travel longer distances. These vehicles include electric mopeds, electric bicycles, electric skateboard/longboards, and even electric unicycles. I will be posting more about these options in future blogs! Stay tuned for more information and recommendations!