A new report by the Governors Highway Safety Association looks at how the rise in use of personal … [+]
Electric bicycles (e-bikes), electric scooters (e-scooters), motorized skateboards and other small personal transportation devices have seen a huge spike in use on roads and sidewalks across the country during the past decade, and since the Covid-19 pandemic, the move to rely less on public transit and more on public distancing measures has fueled that growth.
Today, these modes of transport, known as micromobility and are typically low speed, light weight and partially or fully motorized, are more popular than ever, but “a patchwork approach to safety” does little to protect users, according to a new report released last month from the Governors Highway Safety Association, a nonprofit organization representing state highway safety offices.
“Micromobility devices, both shared and personally owned, are here to stay and we need to do more to ensure they’re operated safely,” Jonathan Adkins, executive director for the association, said in a statement. “Understanding and Tackling Micromobility: Transportation’s New Disruptor,” highlighted the safety challenges posed by the heightened use of personal mobility devices and efforts by states and localities to address them.
Currently, shared micromobility systems are in place in 47 states and Washington, DC, and use is expected to continue to grow, the report said. The number of trips on them rose to 84 million in 2018, double the number from the previous year, which has increased the potential for crashes. Hospitals reported triple digit spikes in e-scooter injuries and hospital admissions, researchers said, noting that while most scooter injuries occured after falls or collisions with infrastructure, “interactions between scooter riders and vehicles are more likely to be deadly.”
Of the 22 e-scooter fatalities that occurred in the United States since 2018, most involved a motor vehicle, and e-bike-related injuries are nearly three times more likely to be the result of a crash with a motor vehicle and severe enough to require hospitalization. More attention is required, the report stated, in a range of areas, including oversight. For example, regulations vary from state to state and/or locality to locality, making it difficult for riders and other road users to know what is permitted and for law enforcement officials to address unsafe behaviors.
Data collection, education, funding safety programs, enforcement and infrastructure investment were also cited as in need of improvements.
The report provided examples of localities that have taken positive steps to address some of the safety challenges, like sidewalk bans if there are protected bike lanes, closing roads to motor vehicles to allow for pedestrians, bicyclists and personal transportation device riders, and accelerating efforts to install greenways and other biking infrastructure.
Other highlights include:
- Atlanta, Ga. introduced several initiatives, including creating a guide to assist police officers with enforcement and crash reporting efforts.
- Boise, Idaho amended its e-scooter ordinance to slow riders down in congested areas and to assign ID numbers to each device enabling the public to report reckless riders.
- Santa Monica, Calif. requires providers to use geofencing to address parking, safety and oversaturation problems by setting up a deactivation zone around the beach area to slow down and eventually stop the devices. Enforcement and education efforts by local police have resulted in dramatic drops in unsafe behaviors, according to the report, like not wearing a helmet, riding on the sidewalk and running red lights.
“We need to raise awareness among motorists, pedestrians and law enforcement about the rules of the road on micromobility, and take action to upgrade laws, infrastructure and data systems for new mobility options,” Adkins added.
