Within less then one year shared electric scooters (I would say electric steps) are gaining ground very fast in already 65 cities in the USA. They might become a dream solution for the first and last miles, much better than the growing deployment of Ubers at these short distances. In my newest blogpost I deal with these and other micro-mobility solutions for the future.
You will find the Dutch version of this post here: https://wp.me/p32hqY-1GS
Beware! The e-steps are coming
Do you think this is smart?
Hi Samantha. I did not spend too many thoughts about the conditions in Amsterdam. One thing is clear. In Amsterdam there is no place for e-steps or any additional form of transport unless the available space is redistributed at the expense of cars.
In case of their appearance in Dutch town a serious debate has to take place about the conditions under which they might become a blessing for mobility. One of the issues will be a more or less orderly way of parking.
I wrote this post in the first place as a contribution to the debate about mobility within the first and last miles. In the Netherlands cycling and walking are without much dispute considered as the first options. However, the shared e-step might be a serous (partial) alternative, because of its compactness, flexibility and cheapness.
Hello! I'm so curious how you see the dockless scooter situation playing out in Amsterdam. I am located in Denver and, since the electric scooter systems are dockless, I often see Lime and Bird scooters lying on the sidewalks and in the public rights-of-way. I worry about this more than the creation/re-allocation of scooter lanes. It hasn't become too much of an issue or inconvenience yet since the scooters are new and relatively few in comparison to other types of transportation, but Denver, like many other cities in especially the western United States is quite spread out. Contrarily, Amsterdam is more compact, its space strategically alotted and it seems no space is unused. I don't see much extra room for the haphazard collections of unused electric scooters. Do you think the model will have to be adjusted to a more orderly version (although I imagine the joy of the shared electric scooter system is the user's complete freedom in mobility to reach the last meter, moreso than the alternative docked rental bikes); do you foresee scooter usership becoming bigger, and in some ways replacing, bicycle usership? Very curious to get your perspective!