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  1. Home
  2. Research
  3. Cities
  4. Micromobility

Micromobility

Small electric vehicles like e-scooters and e-bikes for short urban trips and last-mile delivery
Back to CitiesView interactive version

Micromobility, a term that encompasses small, lightweight vehicles typically operating at speeds below 25 km/h, is reshaping the future of urban transportation and logistics. This solution effectively tackles the pressing issues of traffic congestion, pollution, and the growing demand for efficient, sustainable last-mile delivery in cities. As urban populations increase and traditional infrastructure strains under pressure, the need for more adaptable, eco-friendly transit and delivery options becomes crucial. Micro-mobility offers a viable answer to these challenges by providing alternatives that can seamlessly integrate into the existing urban fabric, reducing reliance on cars and alleviating the strain on public transportation networks.

At its core, micromobility covers a variety of vehicles, such as e-scooters, e-bikes, shared bicycles, and mini delivery trolleys. These vehicles are typically electric-powered or human-propelled, making them both environmentally friendly and cost-effective. Their small size and agility allow them to navigate crowded urban environments with ease, bypassing traffic jams and offering a more direct route to destinations. Micromobility solutions often work in tandem with digital platforms, which allow users to locate, unlock, and pay for the vehicles via smartphone apps. This seamless integration of technology and transport not only enhances user convenience but also enables cities to gather valuable data on movement patterns, which can be used to improve urban planning and infrastructure.

As more people choose these compact vehicles over traditional cars, cities could see a significant reduction in carbon emissions, lower noise pollution levels, and less demand for expansive parking infrastructure. Moreover, micromobility supports the development of 15-minute cities, where residents can access most of their daily needs within a short walk or ride. By fostering more liveable, accessible urban spaces, this technology contributes to a broader vision of sustainable urban development, where human-centric design and environmental responsibility go hand in hand.

In addition, micromobility holds the potential to democratise access to transportation, particularly in areas where public transit options are limited. By providing an affordable and flexible mode of travel, it helps bridge the gap between different socioeconomic groups, ensuring that mobility is not a privilege but a right accessible to all. As cities continue to evolve and face new challenges, micromobility will play a crucial role in shaping more resilient, adaptable urban environments.

Technology Readiness Level
9/9Fully Operative
Diffusion of Innovation
3/5Early Majority
Technology Life Cycle
3/4Maturity
Category
Applications

Related Organizations

Segway-Ninebot logo
Segway-Ninebot

China · Company

100%

A global leader in short-distance transportation solutions and the primary manufacturer of e-scooter hardware for sharing fleets.

Developer
Tier Mobility logo
Tier Mobility

Germany · Company

95%

A leading European shared micromobility provider (recently merged with Dott) focused on multimodal solutions.

Deployer
Voi Technology logo
Voi Technology

Sweden · Company

95%

A European micromobility operator offering e-scooters and e-bikes for sharing.

Deployer
Okai

China · Company

90%

A manufacturing company dedicated to electric scooters and e-bikes, supplying many sharing fleets.

Developer
Swapfiets

Netherlands · Company

90%

A 'bicycle as a service' company offering monthly subscriptions for bikes and e-bikes.

Deployer
Cowboy

Belgium · Startup

85%

A Belgian designer and manufacturer of connected electric bikes for urban riders.

Developer
Polis Network

Belgium · Consortium

75%

A network of European cities and regions working together to develop innovative technologies and policies for local transport.

Standards Body

Supporting Evidence

Article

Urban Delivery by Bike: Microhubs Replaced Delivery Trucks in Toronto

NACTO · Jul 28, 2025

A case study on Toronto's on-street microhub pilot, which successfully demonstrated the replacement of delivery trucks with e-cargo bikes for dense urban logistics.

Support 89%Confidence 96%

Paper

Green Micromobility-Based Last-Mile Logistics from Small-Scale Urban Food Producers

Systems · Sep 7, 2025

Investigates the optimization and sustainability of using micromobility solutions for last-mile logistics among small-scale urban food producers.

Support 88%Confidence 95%

Paper

Uneven development in market-based supplies of new micromobility services: the case of new e-scooter services

npj Sustainable Mobility and Transport · Oct 1, 2025

Analyzes the socio-spatial selectivity of e-scooter services, finding that market-based providers focus on prosperous, dense cities, highlighting challenges in achieving ubiquitous transport transformation.

Support 85%Confidence 98%

Article

Mobility Hubs

x.com

To alleviate the demand for private storage in public space, Eindhoven is creating Mobility Hubs with shared e-bikes, mopeds, cargo bikes and cars. Their 2050 Master Plan establishes a city-wide network to ensure every resident is within 200 to 300 meters of a communal facility.

Support 50%Confidence 80%

Article

Small vehicles of Tokyo

cityofsound.com

A slim cataloguing of the rich diversity of small vehicles that help shape street life in the world’s largest city Unusually for me, this is a post with little in the way of context. Rather, it is simple, recorded observation. As part of an endless enquiry into what makes good streets tick, over four short visits…

Support 50%Confidence 80%

Article

What the Rise of Micromobility Means for the Future of Cities

gensler.com

Between increasing return to the office rates in many cities and a resurgence of in-person shopping and dining, urban residents are interacting with their cities at rates that have not been seen since the start of the pandemic. But for cities to restore to vibrancy, more focus needs to be given to a critical component of urban life: mobility. The future of urban centers — from how metropolitan areas are planned and built to how sustainable our cities can become in the future — will be affected by how people choose to travel in and around their cities, and how cities evolve to support those new behaviors.

Support 50%Confidence 80%

Article

Micromobility: moving cities into a sustainable future

assets.ey.com

Building a more sustainable urban transport system has been a central focus for cities globally with the goal of creating a well-connected seamless mobility experience while reducing traffic, noise and pollution. Despite all the careful planning by government officials to that end, the rise of micromobility has been an unexpected, grassroots success story of recent years in the urban transport sector. In cities across Europe, the US and Asia, thousands of users are taking advantage of a growing range of shared micromobility options. E-scooters in particular are growing in popularity at an incredible rate, surpassing an estimated 20 million users in Europe alone. With this adoption of micromobility and e-scooters growing at an unprecedented speed, could e-scooters be the critical link to help speed up a transition toward sustainable, people-centric cities that leads to improved quality of life? Does micromobility truly deliver a sustainable impact that can be replicated in cities around the world?

Support 50%Confidence 80%

Article

The role of micro-mobility in shaping sustainable cities: A systematic literature review

sciencedirect.com

• Micro-mobility has potential to disrupt private vehicle short distance travel. • Evidence on its role as a sustainable mode of urban transport is fragmented. • A systematic literature review identifies and consolidates research evidence. • Rigorous and auditable bibliometric analyses cluster knowledge into key areas. • Article serves as a reference for effective transport policies for sustainable cities.

Support 50%Confidence 80%

Article

The future of mobility

mckinsey.com

Mobility is entering a new age of innovation. We examined regional trends across the world to explore the complex changes that could transform the sector by 2035.

Support 50%Confidence 80%

Article

Micromobility is the future of urban transportation

view.deloitte.nl

Learn how to make micromobility work for citizens, cities, and service providers

Support 50%Confidence 80%

Article

Bike Platform

x.com

A light, quick, cheap solution so good, it should be copied the world over: The fietsvlonder is a “bike platform” that temporarily swaps one car parking space for 10 bicycles. If deemed a success—as here in Eindhoven—the curb is adjusted and structure moved to the next location.

Support 50%Confidence 80%

Same technology in other hubs

Vector
Vector
Micromobility Integration

E-scooters, e-bikes, and shared cycles integrated into urban transport systems

Connections

Applications
Applications
Mobility as a Service

Unified platform integrating transit, ride-sharing, and bike rentals into one app for seamless urban travel

Technology Readiness Level
8/9
Diffusion of Innovation
3/5
Technology Life Cycle
2/4
Ethics & Security
Ethics & Security
Right to Mobility

Ensuring equitable access to safe, affordable, and sustainable transportation for all urban residents

Technology Readiness Level
8/9
Diffusion of Innovation
2/5
Technology Life Cycle
2/4
Hardware
Hardware
Cycling Infrastructure

Dedicated bike lanes, parking, and storage systems that reduce traffic and promote sustainable transport

Technology Readiness Level
9/9
Diffusion of Innovation
3/5
Technology Life Cycle
3/4
Hardware
Hardware
Self-driving Bus

Autonomous public transit vehicles using AI and sensors to navigate urban routes without drivers

Technology Readiness Level
7/9
Diffusion of Innovation
2/5
Technology Life Cycle
1/4
Hardware
Hardware
Aerial Urban Gondola

Cable-suspended transit system that moves passengers above street-level traffic

Technology Readiness Level
9/9
Diffusion of Innovation
2/5
Technology Life Cycle
2/4
Applications
Applications
Sharing Economy

Platforms connecting people to share underutilized assets, from rides to workspaces

Technology Readiness Level
9/9
Diffusion of Innovation
4/5
Technology Life Cycle
3/4

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