Micromobility is the use of shared lightweight vehicles—bikes, scooters, and segways—to reduce carbon emissions. Private vehicles account for about 60% of carbon emissions worldwide. Shared bikes and scooters let people  ditch their car, instead unlocking bikes that are returnable nearby. In 2019, the micromobility market was projected to be worth $500 million by 2030.

Venture-backed companies like Lime, Capital Bikeshare, and Divvy are paving the road for micromobility, and found popularity over the past few years. But the COVID-19 pandemic threw a wrench into the industry. During shelter in place orders, use of bikeshares plummeted and companies struggled to recover, faced with allegations of ableist practices and unsafe speed settings. 

Micromobility has evolved quickly over the past decade and is expected to ramp up in the coming years. We have a lot to look out for. How will the pandemic change the way we look at bikeshares? How will micromobility affect the infrastructure in our cities? Why are investors so drawn to this emerging industry? And how will bikeshares change the way we look at transportation?

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