Abstract Manager

Micromobility devices are increasing in number on our transportation networks all the time, and with recent technological advances more and more of them are being motorized which has facilitated a rapid growth in the different form factors that they can take and the spectrum of use cases.

From electric bikes to all-terrain self-powered wheelchairs and from electric skateboards to autonomous delivery robots, these devices are becoming ubiquitous and they pose many challenges to transportation network planning. They are often faster and heavier than conventional human-powered versions and blur the distinction between what is safe for multi-use paths and what should be confined to roads and streets.

Although there are already laws regulating their use, it is increasingly obvious that regulations are both struggling to keep up and that enforcing those regulations is going to be more than challenging. Whilst we are rightly concerned with the safety implications of these devices in particular, they are typically low-cost, energy efficient, sustainable, equitable and improve quality of life, including providing numerous direct and indirect health benefits.

The City of Vaughan recognized the opportunities and challenges that motorized micromobility is bringing and engaged Parsons to develop a White Paper exploring this rapidly developing mobility area. Using lessons learned from this work, and updated with recent developments, this presentation will give an overview of the current state of motorized micromobility and possible growth trends, and also offer suggestions as to how jurisdictions might respond in order to maximize the possible benefits and mitigate the downsides.