Navigating mobility’s civil war

Public transport suffers while big tech reinvents the wheel

The public health scare of the pandemic and the resultant remote work culture have hit the use of public transport, and hard. While time-proven solutions such as trains struggle to return to pre-pandemic ridership numbers, various tech companies seem adamant on reinventing mobility, only to end up presenting (often inferior) variations on the bus, train, or taxi.

Regulation, sustainability, and public backlash

As the EU vetoes shorthaul flight routes and cities ban cars from their centres, public resentment is growing. Heightened emotions over the future of mobility have turned the issue into a political weapon, with opinions divided over whether personal mobility should be individual (such as self-driving cars) or communal (like improving public transport).

Mobility is dragged into the so-called ‘culture wars’

Despite the clear benefits for personal health and the environment, new mobility tech such as electric bikes are having their potential stunted as they are dragged into ongoing public debates. New technologies require updated infrastructure, and people are becoming increasingly opinionated on even the most simple modifications to their city, such as the inclusion of bike lanes.

Accessibility for some, not for all

Some countries and municipalities can take pride in their strides towards making inclusive and accessible transport options available to all, whereas others lag behind. As current infrastructure slowly upgraded, people with reduced mobility are often left in the dark as to what is accessible to them and what is not. A properly designed and monitored wayfinding system is key to avoiding user frustration.

The mobility market is on the move

EV sales are slowing in key markets amidst a lack of comprehensive charging networks and fears over the state of battery technology. Tesla, once the leading voice in their sector, have had their growth impacted by the politics of their founder. Tariff wars abound, but China are already ahead in the race to become the leader in electric vehicle production.

Intermodal, now with even more modes

With an ever-growing number of transport options, the battle is on for mobility services such as Wave to lead the way in combining traditional modes of transport with novel offerings such as e-bikes and carsharing. Users are now free to mix and match options to make their journey as direct, cheap, quick, or even scenic, as they like.

‍