Timothy Papandreou’s Post

LIME WINS IN SEATTLE! As last man standing tall, but will Seattle win too? Doug Trumm give's a good write up of the history of shared micro mobility in Seattle, now that Wheels, Link, Veo and soon may be Bird leaves Seattle. But sadly the author accepts the bright shiny "hall pass" that the scooter PR and government affairs staff dish out: the safety is all good as long as no one dies AND that cars are the only threat on our roads. "Despite earlier concerns raised by former Mayor Jenny Durkan and other skeptics that scooters would be hazardous, there’s been no indication scooters are more deadly than any other transportation mode. Bumps, bruises, and broken bones have resulted from users, particularly inexperienced ones, having run-ins with motorists or obstacles in their path. But no increase in road deaths has been linked to the program." - Trumm SDoT's 2021 e-scooter pilot period data there were 17 reported major injury events (police reported) for 1: 82,353 rides* (1:82k) at best. [And at worst the 2.3% self reported medical treatment events in the SDoT survey - not reported to police - would lower ratio to 1:34k.] In 2021 Bird (1:50k) and Lime (1:65k) shared 'public' self reported data for their programs as a whole BUT no where near as good as docked bike share in most cases. As an example, in Honolulu the ratio is ~1:500k. Should not local agencies - when contracting shared micromobility permits - have a minimum injury threshold KPI for SMM a lot higher than the scooter companies propose? Perhaps 1:250k?  #lime #bird #veo #helbiz #link #seattle #sdot #trafficsafety #kpi #nabsa #mutcd #dot #boom #sharedmicromobility #bikeshare https://lnkd.in/gQ_TSkQP

"Something has shifted in the US. Not everyone wants to bike but not everyone wants to drive and it makes life better for everyone to have one less person sitting in car traffic." - U. Bryn Grunwald, senior associate at RMI Learn about how #ebike adoption is accelerating in the US in this article from The Guardian. And make sure to check out our e-bike calculator, which helps city policymakers and advocates quantify the environmental and economic benefits of replacing short-distance vehicle trips with e-bike trips: https://lnkd.in/gx5EcWSM #transportation #cityplanning #climate

Our latest Streets and People episodes are live! A/Prof Alexa Delbosc, Monash University discusses her excellent work on shared e-scooter programs. Alexa shares her passion for social and behavioural psychology, and how these fields intertwine with transport systems. The discussion delves into how shared bikes and eScooters serve low-income communities, regulatory challenges, and the impacts of these transport solutions in urban and suburban settings. Alexa also highlights the importance of advocating for lower speed limits in neighbourhoods to enhance safety and underscores the communal effort needed for transport initiatives to thrive. https://lnkd.in/g-B-muV8 Anna Gurnhill Liza Neil David Freer Land Use and Mobility Stephen Coulter  #EScooters #RoadSafety #Cycling #PublicTransport #SustainableTransport #UrbanMobility #SocialPsychology #TransportResearch #ActiveTransport #BikeInfrastructure #LowerSpeedLimits #LocalGovernance #CommunityProjects #TransportAdvocacy #Caboolture #MonashUniversity #SharedMobility #TransportPolicy #TrafficEngineering #SustainableCities  John Burrill answers a listener's query about road rules, specifically focusing on the legality of riding e-scooters on 60 km/h roads without footpaths in Queensland. The conversation covers John's extensive experience at TMR and redesigning Queensland driving tests. They elaborate on the implications of road centre lines, speed limits, and parking regulations. Adam, the listener, highlights inconsistencies in laws regarding pedestrian safety and scooter use on residential roads. They also discuss parking rules and the impacts of large vehicles on parking spaces. The episode emphasises the complexities and apparent biases within road rules and planning regulations, urging a call to address these discrepancies. https://lnkd.in/gBhFKh36 Michael Langdon this episode will appeal to you. #RoadRules360 #ListenerQuestions #ScooterRegulations #BikeLaws #PedestrianSafety #RoadSafety #TrafficLaws #TransportPodcast #ScooterRules #ParkingSpaces #BicycleLaws #TrafficRules #SafetyStandards #LegalAdvice #RoadSafetyAwareness #ListenerInteraction #TransportLegislation #PodcastEpisode #SafetyFirst

Scootershare in Eugene, OR -- What We Learned Over the next several posts, I will be sharing the meat and potatoes of Eugene's scootershare pilot program final report - What We Learned. The topic is examined across three sub-sections: 1. Program Profile - A look into the Who, Where, When, and Why of scooter use 2. Guiding Tenets - An assessment of how well the scootershare program addressed its guiding tenets of Safety, Sustainability, and Equity 3. Community Concerns - A dive into the top two concerns about the program expressed by Eugene's community members (Scooter Parking and Program Funding) While sorting through the data and survey answers used to inform this report, I was struck by how many people shared stories of how the scootershare program had impacted and changed their lives for the better by granting autonomy and independence; the ability to travel where they wanted, when they wanted, without needing to rely upon other people or transit systems. Their stories impressed upon me the importance of such programs, the need for them, and that they be taken seriously as legitimate modes of transportation. #scootershare #escooters #micromobility

🛴 Why i choose my E-scooter over a car... and no, it´s not because it´s easier with parkinglots! I see my E-scooter as a symbol of progress, a testament to how far we've come in our quest for sustainable urban mobility. E-scooters stand at the forefront of this journey, merging eco-friendliness with unparalleled convenience. They cut through the noise and clutter of city life, offering a sleek, green alternative that’s both fun and functional. 🌿🛴 However, for all their brilliance and promise, e-scooters bear a hidden challenge that demands our attention and respect. The core of these marvels, the lithium-ion battery, while compact and powerful, carries an inherent risk. It’s a reminder that with great power comes great responsibility. The risk of thermal runaway—a fierce, uncontrollable chemical reaction within the battery—can turn a routine charging session into a serious safety hazard. 🔋🚨 At LIONLABS®, we don’t see this as a setback but as a challenge to be met with confidence and expertise. We understand the delicate balance between innovation and safety, and we're committed to ensuring that your leap towards eco-friendly mobility is both secure and rewarding. Our cutting-edge solutions like the LIONLABS®BOX and the LIONLABS®LOCKER are designed to address these very risks, safeguarding your home, your e-scooter, and your peace of mind. 🛡️✨ In my opinion, adopting e-scooters into our lives shouldn’t be a leap of faith but a stride towards a cleaner, more efficient future, taken with eyes wide open to the potential risks and the ways to mitigate them. With proper charging practices, certified safety gear, and a vigilant eye on battery health, we can harness the full potential of e-scooters without a shadow of doubt. 🚀🌍 And of course I am interested - Do you choose an E-scooter over a sportscar? #LIONLABS #EMobility #Batteryfire #FireSafety

On March 31, 2023, Scootershare launched in Eugene, Oregon. For me, it was the culmination and fruition of more than four years of work. In 2018 I chose to focus my master's thesis research on three case study cities (Portland, OR; San Francisco, CA; Santa Monica, CA) to assess how cities were approaching the regulation of what was then the new phenomena of shared-use e-scooters. This research resulted in a set of recommendations for scootershare regulatory best practices that I was then able to carry forward into my employment with the City of Eugene's Transportation Planning Team. As the program was taking form, I had the privilege of taking it through community and stakeholder engagement, legal administration, and service procurement. I am proud to have worked on a program that was able to increase transportation choice and active transportation trips, reduce reliance on automobiles, facilitate climate recovery through the reduction of fossil fuel consumption, and contribute to a fair and equitable transportation system. The Executive Summary shared here highlights key findings from Eugene's scootershare program, including the fact that it is estimated that 24 fewer metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions were emitted throughout the Program’s duration, equal to the annual sequestration power of 28.6 acres (roughly 21 football fields) of American forest. What have been some key highlights of scootershare programs in your city? Do they align with those seen in Eugene? #escooters #scootershare #micromobility

Scootershare in Eugene, OR - Safety, Sustainability, and Equity (What We Learned) The scootershare program in Eugene was guided by three main principles - Safety, Sustainability, and Equity. When analyzing how well the program did or did not perform in these realms, it became clear that scooter rider behavior in Eugene in many ways reflected commonly understood concepts about human behavior - if you want someone to behave in a certain way, make it the easy and convenient option. 🌎 💚 Want to reduce reliance on automobiles and increase active transportation trips? Provide affordable, abundant, green mobility options (scootershare for sure, but also bikeshare and transit). Approximately one-third of scooter users in Eugene reported using a motor vehicle less often since first using the scootershare program. ⛑️ 🛣 Don't want scooters on sidewalks? Provide a network of safe, easily accessible, and connected alternative pathways, such as bikeways and shared-use paths. In Eugene, most people who reported riding on the sidewalk did so because it was the safest feeling option. ⚖ 🙌 Want to provide a transportation option that can be used equitably by all members of a community? Yes, provide options such as reduced fare programs. But also market those programs to increase awareness of them and remove bureaucratic barriers to signing up for such programs. #scootershare #escooters #micromobility

Did you know that a big risk to doing any outdoor adventure is just Getting There? Yes, car crashes are still a leading cause of fatalities worldwide, with distracted and impaired driving playing a huge role. I'm proud to be affiliated with a remarkable program that motivates young drivers to develop safe driving habits and prevent distracted and impaired driving, while influencing their peers, families and communities to do the same, In One Instant Teen Safe Driving Program. Please follow https://lnkd.in/gGBwt-4z to support this award-winning driving safety solution. You'll get some great ideas on how to save more lives and stay safe - whether you're driving to an outdoor pursuit, or trail-running or cycling on any roadway. #DistractedDrivingAwareness #RoadSafety, #InOneInstant #AdventureSafety

This is the best think piece on the state of shared scooters I’ve read to date. This here is spot on: “But those who care about the future of urban life should not indulge in scooter schadenfreude. For all the annoyance they inspire, shared e-scooters have been valuable additions to American neighborhoods, frequently replacing car trips that pose a much greater threat to street safety and clean air. Cities—whose leaders have contributed to e-scooters’ current predicament—would be worse without them. Upon examination, many of the most common e-scooter complaints are actually indictments of bad street design. Yes, e-scooter users can startle pedestrians on the sidewalk, but that would happen less frequently if cities provided networks of protected bike lanes. Yes, e-scooters abandoned in the middle of footpaths obstruct those pushing a stroller or rolling along in a wheelchair—which is an excellent reason to install more bike corrals. And yes, it is stressful for drivers to see an e-scooter user dart in front of them, but, again, that wouldn’t occur so often if riders could use bike lanes that separate them from cars.” Thank you David Zipper and Fast Company for the thoughtful article. https://lnkd.in/eYgZs96W

Exciting news! It's great to see an increase in ridership and more cities embracing bike-share programs. However, it's unfortunate that micromobility providers still face financial uncertainty. Let's continue supporting sustainable transportation options for a brighter future. #BikeShare #Sustainability