Developing micromobility – smoother and safer urban transport

Micromobility is a revolutionary trend in urban mobility, offering a convenient alternative to short distances. Electric bicycles and other light electric vehicles, such as electric scooters, have become very popular around the world. Micromobility helps reduce traffic emissions, but at the same time creates several safety and transport system challenges that we at Sweco can help solve.

Shared electric scooters and city bikes have become a part of urban mobility culture, offering a fast, convenient and environmentally friendly way to navigate dense urban environments. These new trends of mobility can contribute to the smooth flow of urban transport and be an integral part of sustainable solutions for modern urban planning. However, they present numerous safety challenges and problems related to traffic flow.

The Government is committed to developing  new micromobility guidelines in its Government Programme to help cities and municipalities better manage the challenges posed by micromobility and promote its safe integration into the transport system.

Development of micromobility

Micromobility offers numerous benefits for cities. It promotes sustainable mobility by reducing emissions and the burden on the environment. It can also reduce congestion and parking problems, improve urban air quality and support healthy lifestyles by encouraging people to move.

At Sweco, we help cities take advantage of the opportunities offered by micromobility and solve related challenges. Our goal is to effectively integrate new modes of  transport into a sustainable transport system. We offer practical planning solutions and strategic consultancy to help cities optimise new micromobility options, creating a sustainable and seamless infrastructure.

In urban planning, the development of micromobility requires a holistic and systematic approach. Cities can improve the flow of micromobility by, for example, investing in cycle path networks and charging points for electric vehicles.

Safety of electric scooters

The safety of e-scooters has become a major concern in cities as their popularity has grown. One of the key challenges relates to the safety of e-scooters and other road users, especially pedestrians and cyclists. E-scooters can move at significantly high speeds, which increases the risk of accidents.

At Sweco, we work together with cities to improve the safety of micromobility. One way to respond to these safety challenges is to tighten up the rules and regulations related to the use of electric scooters, which will be clarified in the coming years. The rules may include speed limits as well as safety requirements such as wearing a helmet. In addition, cities can improve metro safety by investing in better infrastructure, such as safe cycle paths and dedicated e-scooter parking lots.

Proper parking of electric scooters contributes to the safety of their use and reduces the harm they create to other traffic. We help cities plan and implement various parking solutions, such as separately marked parking areas.