This Week in Urban Mobility

Welcome to This Week in Urban Mobility, your curated digest of the most important developments shaping the future of how we move in European cities. As an industry insider, I'm passionate about cutting through the noise to bring you the news, trends, and insights that truly matter for urban mobility professionals.

1. Greening Up: The Evolution of Shared Micromobility

Greener Micromobility

Shared micromobility is undergoing a green transformation, significantly reducing its environmental impact through innovative hardware advancements. According to the latest report from the ITF - International Transport Forum, shared e-scooters and e-bikes have seen a 58% reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions per kilometer traveled since 2020. This progress is largely due to the introduction of more durable vehicles, swappable battery systems, and optimized fleet management practices. These improvements have tripled the usable lifespan of shared micromobility vehicles, making them a more sustainable choice for urban transport. The report underscores the importance of further integrating these solutions with public transit to maximize their environmental benefits and enhance urban mobility.

2. Back in the Game: Cake’s Comeback Story

The CAKE journey continues

After hitting a rough patch and facing bankruptcy, CAKE – ridecake.com , the Swedish electric motorcycle startup, is back on its feet and ready to make waves in the industry again. The new management team, led by former Cake CTO Petra Färm, has shared ambitious plans to steer the company towards a brighter and more sustainable future. With a renewed focus on innovation and environmental impact, Cake aims to re-establish itself as a leader in the electric mobility space.

Happy to see a great competitor like Cake bouncing back; wishing them the best as they reignite their journey towards transforming the electric mobility landscape.

3. From Roads to Rivers: Bolt Sets Sail in Stockholm

Bolt går till sjöss i Stockholm

Bolt is making waves in Stockholm, quite literally, by launching a new water transport service. The popular ride-hailing company is now offering boat rides across the city’s picturesque waterways, providing a fresh, eco-friendly alternative to road traffic. This new venture is all about easing congestion and giving residents and visitors a fun, efficient way to get around. With a fleet of electric boats, Bolt is showing how transportation can be both green and enjoyable, proving once again that they’re at the forefront of urban mobility innovation.

It’s fantastic to see Bolt bringing their innovative spirit to Stockholm’s waterways. This is a great example of how urban mobility can be both sustainable and exciting. I wish them the best with this new venture.

4. Slowing Down to Speed Up: The 30km/h Revolution in European Cities

Cars Are Slowing Down in European Cities

European cities are embracing the 30km/h speed limit, transforming urban life by making streets safer and more livable. Pioneering this initiative was Graz, Austria, which implemented the 30km/h limit citywide back in 1992. Since then, cities like Paris and Brussels have adopted similar measures, leading to quieter, more pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods and significantly reducing traffic-related accidents. One of the most surprising results is that these lower speed limits have actually led to faster traffic flow due to reduced stop-and-go congestion. The positive outcomes of slowing down traffic are evident everywhere it’s introduced: lower emissions, safer streets, and a surge in community engagement.

The adoption of the 30km/h speed limit, pioneered by cities like Graz, is a fantastic step towards safer and more sustainable urban environments. It's particularly fascinating to see how it leads to faster traffic flow by reducing stillstand. It's encouraging to see these initiatives bringing such positive changes to city life.

5. Bigger Cars, Bigger Headaches: The Urban Dilemma of Growing SUVs

Auto's worden groter, meningen verdeeld of parkeerplaatsen moeten meegroeien

In the Netherlands, the trend of ever-growing SUVs is sparking a contentious debate about parking space sizes. As these massive vehicles clog city streets and squeeze into tight parking spots, many are questioning their suitability for urban environments. Critics argue that SUVs are the least practical choice for city living, consuming more space and resources than necessary. They point out that enlarging parking spaces to accommodate these oversized vehicles could further encourage their use, exacerbating traffic congestion and environmental issues.

SUVs are arguably the most impractical cars for city use, and expanding parking spaces to fit them only compounds the problem. It’s crucial to prioritize more sensible, sustainable vehicle choices for urban areas.

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