What's The E-Scooters' Place in the Sustainable Mobility System

Short and quick.

Most, if not everyone are concerned and have come to the point where questions have risen as to the relevance of the personal mobility devices.

What is their purpose? What are they really for? What is their actual use?

Questions, questions, questions. What will really determine the ecological relevance of a means of transportation is put on the spot.

Indeed, can a vehicle or a mode of transport if ever, is ecological by itself? Well, there lies the rub. For the electric scooter to be considered environment-friendly it must meet a mobility need in a more ecological way than the standard means of transport we already have and do, like walking, cycling, public transport or private vehicles).

Is this clear, is it making sense?

In the case of electric scooters, the question of what their use is cannot be regarded as unclear.

In the majority of cases, there are allegations that using an electric scooter does not replace a more polluting alternative.

Presumably, those who generally travel by car aren’t giving up, no just yet, on their vehicles and replacing them for electric scooters.

To other people, there are already better alternatives to travel long distances such as public transport or even cycling. But in fact, many times, electric scooters replace other, more ecological modes of transport like cycling, walking, busses or subways.

Studies say that they emit more CO2 than these different modes of transport, electric scooters tend today to increase the global carbon footprint of the mobility sector.

Not accurate, nor is it true. Riding an e-scooter contributes to zero CO2 emissions.

But for electric scooters to fit into a system of mobility and sustainable transportation, it must, first and foremost:

1. Be able to extend their lifespan and be used in a more urbane and careful way so that they can last longer.
   
   
2. Improve charging infrastructure. Avoid using them to replace trips already doing good when it comes to carbon emissions, like public transport, walking or cycling.

Tall order and it’s not easy, bu not impossible..

There are actual scenarios where it may make sense to ride electric scooters, especially for people using different transports to get to their destination, like for the first and last mile travel, or for short trips to do errands. Electric scooters are fast, efficient time and energy savers.

In fact, their manifold advantages and health-giving benefits outweigh and can refute the pre-judged notion that they are irrelevant, impractical, and flippant toys of fancy only.

For the majority of users who don’t want to shift to them rideables, they present a scenario where public transportation works well and efficiently, and it being the main way of moving around in a city that’s not giving concession to cars, they are stubbornly refusing to opt to use electric scooters even if it will be a most interesting alternative.

Most cities still have air and sound pollution-causing, gas-powered, fume emitting cars running, nonetheless.

Seeing it from a perspective where the goal is to start preparing people for a smart, interconnected public transportation network, and where individual-owned cars are left at home, as electric scooters offer are an inexpensive alternative to get to specific locations such as subways, where trams or buses don’t get to, it just make practical sense.

Sure, bikes can do it unless it’s a long way up – then we’d have to evaluate the electric scooters’ use and functionality, and compare both.

The way mobility in cities is designed today, the evidently viable eco-friendly alternative to the toxin-emitting four-wheeled vehicle, is the probable and highly desirable choice is the electric scooter.