A Vision for Urban Micromobility: From Current Streetscape to City of the Future

As urban transport technology accelerates, various novel modes of electric-assisted personal transportation are emerging. These create both opportunities and constraints for transportation engineers and urban designers. Our research suggests that it is becoming increasingly clear that traditional road designs and public transportation infrastructures are struggling to accommodate the challenges. Micromobility (MM), including e-bikes, e-scooters, e-skateboards, Segways and hoverboards, is becoming more popular and acceptable by people in the urban environment. Benefits include portability, ease of use, and affordability through shared services. Yet questions abound: How can the increased presence of MM be part of the necessary mixed streaming on urban streets? How can existing infrastructure and spatial allocations be more accommodating of MM, while not unduly disadvantaging other transport forms? Using a case study from the core of Washington, DC, we model the possibilities for adaptable road features that might be implemented for MM based on different traffic loads and infrastructure configurations. We conclude with a brief examination of how micromobility accommodation is poised to leverage urban transformation more broadly, including as it relates to sustainable green infrastructure and stormwater management opportunities.