Urban mobility is the way we get around a city. As the world population grows, large cities are growing even larger. This has forced governments to rethink urban mobility and how we navigate cities is changing in interesting ways. The number of electric vehicles we see on the streets is getting higher. This includes not only online cars but also smaller vehicles such as bikes and scooters. Governments around the world are also upgrading public transport systems to be more efficient and accessible. Introducing more smart and electric vehicles to the street may seem futuristic and fun, but it is important to understand how they are fully reshaping the way the public moves in cities. In this article, let’s have a look at the future of urban mobility and how it may impact the way we navigate the cities.
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The Future is Electric
Just a few years ago, electric vehicles were considered a niche product preferred by only a selected group of people. However, as the entire world is moving towards a sustainable future, electric vehicles have become a major part of the vehicle industry. The upcoming decades will likely show an exponential increase in electric vehicles on the roads, driven by a more environmentally conscious public that aims for lower emissions and a reduced carbon footprint.
Here are reasons why electric vehicles are the future of transportation.
Eco-Friendliness
Due to their zero-emissions design, more electric cars on the roads means there is a lot less air pollution in mainly urban areas. At present, the massive dependency on fossil fuels in transportation has caused a never-ending cycle of environmental pollution. With more electric vehicles, there will be a lot less reliance on fossil fuels which will help the world to transition to clean energy solutions in a far smoother and easier way.
Tech Advancements
Early designs of electric vehicles raised concerns due to their slow charging times and the short ranges they can be driven due to battery capacity. However, electrical vehicles have improved in leaps and bounds since then, promising steady longer ranges and much faster charging times. The manufacturers of electric vehicles have made this more and more accessible for everyone, and practical for everyday use as well. Electric vehicles are also more technologically advanced due to their capability to hold more features when compared to their regular fuel-driven counterparts.
Micro-Mobility—Electric Bikes and Scooters
The cities are getting bigger and more dense than ever. Micro-mobility methods such as electric bikes and scooters make for a highly efficient way to move through big cities on a more personal level. These smaller alternatives to cars are rather lightweight and easy to move around on. They are great for short and regular commutes.
These smaller alternatives to traffic-causing vehicles are extremely convenient to navigate congested streets. When using a car, even an electric car, to drive a relatively small distance feels excessive, micro-mobility devices make a great way to make a short trip. The absence of emissions makes them great for the environment while also being highly affordable especially when compared to cars. The cost savings are not just for the initial price, but also for the ongoing maintenance expenses.
With all the benefits that come with micro-mobility, several challenges come with micro-mobility as well.
Safety
When used with care in proper infrastructure designed for such micro-mobility devices, there are little to no safety concerns with using them. However, due to the lack of necessary infrastructure, accidents can occur. It is therefore a must to give priority to create dedicated lanes and proper regulations for micro-mobility devices in cities.
Clutter
An unplanned influx of micro-mobility devices can sometimes cause cluttered sidewalks and create unsafe environments. Putting together proper rules and regulations for such use can prevent such situations from occurring.
Public Transport
A well-designed and maintained public transportation system is the backbone of successful urban mobility. Novel solutions such as electric cars may get more praise and focus when it comes to urban mobility, but the number of people they can move at a time is quite low, leading to traffic problems. Public transport is the best and the most efficient way to move large numbers of people. As many cities move towards a more sustainable future, many programs are coming up to upgrade the current public transportation systems to be more efficient and more accessible.
Electric Vehicles as Public Transport
Some of the major cities across the world including Los Angeles and Berlin are making large investments towards introducing electric buses and trains into their public transportation systems. One of the most common issues in such big cities is the massive air pollution due to traffic, and this shift towards electric vehicles is a way to reduce vehicle emissions and improve air quality. Electric trains are common in most big cities around the world, which are fast, accessible, and make great public transport methods.
Autonomous and On-Demand Public Transit
Smart electric vehicles that can be driverless are getting more popular by the day and their addition to public transit is also being talked about a lot. Especially when it comes to making fixed transit times and schedules more efficient, it will not be too long before we start seeing driverless buses and even subways. Another public transit experiment that is being done is adjusting public transit schedules as needed on demand rather than running on fixed schedules. The real-time tracking capabilities of the demand for public transportation are getting easier and more reliable, making this possible.
The future of urban mobility is looking bright with more and more eco-friendly and smarter options. The trend right now may seem to be just futuristic electric cars. However, both smaller vehicles such as bikes, and larger vehicles such as buses and trains are all moving towards a future with less emissions and more electricity and efficiency. Upgrading both the physical infrastructure in cities and the mindset of the people to welcome the shift towards more eco-friendly vehicle options would ensure a better world for future generations.