1257 | 515 | Caution in defining micromobility: The importance of not leaving anyone behind as terminologies change

The term “micromobility” in the context of transport is a new one, apparently having been coined only in 2017. However, there is still no widely-agreed on definition, or accord on which devices/modes fall under its remit; furthermore, there appears to be no research to-date on how this term is understood and perceived by the general public, something especially concerning given the potentially strong association with e-scooters, which many view negatively. It is also unclear whether this term will replace, or just be used alongside, those such as “personal mobility device” and “non-motorised transport”._x000D_
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I would like to use this pretext on methodology as an introduction to the importance of including all users of human-scale transport under the umbrella of “micromobility”, especially those who use mobility aids such as wheelchairs or mobility scooters. Not doing so risks perpetuating the failure to include them in the planning and design process of cities._x000D_
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I propose a 3-part presentation, composed of the aforementioned introduction on methodology and the risks of non-inclusion, followed by an exploration of how we can improve research on, and infrastructure for, mobility aid use, by considering mobility aids as a unique mode of transport, drawing on parallels with other modes of transport, such as cycling. Finally, the third part of the presentation would put forth suggestions on how to improve micromobility infrastructure design, taking account of the needs of all users and device types, through the use of a new design and assessment tool. Such a tool, perhaps called “Micromobility Level of Service”, could be made to work alongside existing tools (such as Pedestrian Level of Service), and be assessed via automated methods such as LiDAR-equipped vehicles or AI analysis of Streetview imagery. This presentation will hopefully enable broader thinking in future when considering micromobility-related issues and user needs._x000D_

David Hicks
University of Groningen

ID Abstract: 515