MOBILITY
MOBILITY
“ MaaS is an extremely broad term , encompassing everything from ride hailing to both docked and dockless shared micromobility services . But at its core , MaaS removes the need for the consumer to own their own personal form of transport ,” says Hall , as she sums up the term in the best possible way .
Although micro-mobility was far from the only driving force in influencing MaaS , Hall explains that it ’ s meeting the demand for multi-modal journeys . “ I wouldn ’ t say that e-scooters influenced the demand for MaaS so much as shared that micro-mobility has proven to be the answer to consumer demand for accessible , sustainable , and affordable personal mobility for shorter journeys ,” says Hall .
From another brand in this space , Matthew Pencharz , Head of Public Policy for UK , Ireland & the Netherlands at Voi Technology , adds to this : ” Shared e-scooters have
delivered a sustainable ‘ last-mile solution ’. Instead of just jumping in a private car , you can use an e-scooter to travel to the train station or bus stop , and use public transport for the rest of your journey .
“ MaaS platforms are enabling this by bringing together different types of mobility and making it easier for people to plan , pay and access these services . Over a third of our trips are taken in conjunction with public transport , a number that will only increase as more MaaS platforms are launched .”
What e-scooters represent is , as mentioned , a change in mindset , which is the first step for any e-mobility industry that looks to grow purely through sustainable influence , and by meeting the developing needs of a growing population .
Nevertheless , the industry continues to rise , and further concerns around e-scooters will shape how businesses adapt their products and services — one of these is the safety aspect of publicly-used e-scooters . “ The key industry trends at the moment are about creating a service that is able to support operations in the long-term ,” says Hall . “ There ’ s some ongoing dialogue with local authorities on what a successful
“OUR URBAN AREAS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED AROUND THE CAR FOR DECADES , AT THE EXPENSE OF DEVELOPING TRANSPORT SYSTEMS THAT PUT PEOPLE FIRST ”
JESS HALL HEAD OF CITIES UKI , TIER MOBILITY
82 [ Jan 2023 ] EVMAGAZINE . COM