The document, titled “Macro managing micromobility”, was launched on 27 November during opening plenary of the network’s annual conference.

Shared micromobility is a hot topic for transport professionals across the public and private sectors. With this paper, MOMENTUM partner Polis, the network of cities and regions for transport innovation, intends to shed some light of the micromobility phenomenon, highlighting the key issues at stake and the need for local authorities to “macro-managing” the rise of e-scooters and electric bicycles in a strategic and more informed way.

The strategic potential of shared micromobility is the main result of the intense dialogue that Polis have been conducting on this topic, for over a year, with many cities and regions, with the major players in this industry, and with many other relevant stakeholders, from pedestrian and cycling advocates to public transport operators and innovation & disruption experts, among others.

This dialogue has been enhanced by the active participation of several members of the Polis working groups on Governance & Integration, Health & Active Travel, and Road Safety & Security, in countless conferences, workshops and meetings.

New studies, reports and guidelines have been coming out regularly, along with a steady stream of news and editorials. It has become a crowded debate, polarised by technological break-throughs and regulatory crackdowns. Interesting, for sure, but how helpful for cities, really? Dialogue on these topics must empower cities to work for the long-term public interest, instead of being rich in jargon and poor in purpose.

The full discussion paper is available here.