Welcome to the Micromobility Newsletter, your weekly digest of important events and industry news in the world of personal transportation.
Today’s newsletter is brought to you by… Autodesk
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What You Need to Know Today
New York City lawmakers are considering a bill that would require license plates and registration for e-bikes, among other micromobility vehicles. The ostensible purpose of the bill is to enhance safety by monitoring reckless riding and imposing fines for inappropriate behavior. But you can’t help but wonder if the city’s real goal might be to squeeze revenue from e-bikers and other non-car users through mandatory registration fees.
Related: New York City’s six-month e-bike charging pilot for delivery workers has been deemed a success. Home charging of e-bike batteries decreased by 35%, thereby reducing the risk of apartment fires. Consequently, the program will receive $25M in federal funding in 2025 and expand to 173 charging hubs near 53 public housing complexes.
British internet service provider Vorboss has partnered with logistics company Fernhay to launch CityLab, a specialized electric cargo bike that allows field technicians to efficiently conduct on-site diagnostics and maintenance for critical infrastructure.
Image Credit: Fernhay
A new study by CoMoUK reveals that shared e-bikes and e-scooters could replace an astounding 56% of car commutes in England and Wales. According to the CoMoUK director, the biggest obstacle hindering the growth of micromobility is the lack of public funding.
Stella has been handed a lifeline from bankruptcy. Investment firm Scheybeeck and chain-store owner Ilias Salhi have acquired the Dutch e-bike company, which entered bankruptcy last month. Stella will reopen in March after reorganization, which will include downsizing of stores and employees.
Chinese e-bike producer AIMA has signed an exclusive deal with UNIVELO to distribute its line of UL-2849-certified e-bikes to select retailers across Canada.
Image Credit: UNIVELO
Vietnam, whose air quality ranks among the worst in the world, is looking to electric motorcycles to help solve its air pollution problems. However, a generational divide is slowing adoption. While Gen Z is embracing e-motos, older generations are clinging to the convenience of gas-powered models.
Segway’s new US e-bike division is breaking from its direct-to-consumer model and turning to independent dealers to launch its two new models, the Xyber and Xafari. The company aims to establish a national retail network by early 2025.
Despite the surging popularity of e-cargo bikes for personal and commercial use in the EU, their availability remains limited. A study from Lund University in Sweden suggests that municipal involvement, such as subsidies and integrating cargo bikes into urban mobility planning, is key to expanding shared e-cargo bike access.
Here’s an odd one: 10,000 pink electric motorcycles will soon be available to delivery workers in cities across the UAE, financed via blockchain.
Image Credit: Mantra
An NYCDOT study of traffic over the East River bridges reveals that bike ridership set record numbers for the fourth consecutive year. Between 2023 and 2024, two-wheeler usage grew 15%.
And in Montreal, bikeshare ridership broke a record with 13M annual rides.
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