As cities get increasingly crowded, could a switch to smaller, lighter, and more nimble transportation systems make life easier and less expensive for people?

Mike Day, from urban planning and design practice Hatch | Roberts Day, and a fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia, says Australia is facing an ‘affordable living crisis’ rather than a ‘housing affordability crisis’, with people living in the outer suburbs having to spend more time and money on long commutes.

Citing the latest research by the Australian Automobile Association (AAA), Day says, “...the annual cost of owning and running a car in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane is $26,000 and the average cost across all Australian capital cities is $23,000. At an interest rate of 6%, removing one car from a two- or three-car family, and the associated cost, would service around $300,000 of a housing loan.”

Accoring to Day, micro-scooters and e-bikes may prove to be one answer.

“Not only does a full charge of an e-bike cost 25-30 cents per 60km of powered riding, if just 15 percent of urban transportation comprised e-bikes, carbon emissions could be reduced by 12 percent.

E-bikes also utilise more direct routes, and studies have shown there is minimal difference in physical activity gains between e-bikers and cyclists. Bikes can move seven times more people than cars: a single lane of traffic can move 14,000 cyclists an hour, compared with 9000 people on buses and just 2000 people in cars.”

However, e-bikes also need their own dedicated lane, separate from pedestrian movement and cars, he adds. Micro-mobility, therefore, needs to be integrated into the existing road networks to maximise its benefits, and a new micro-mobility-focused streetscape should be designed for the future.

While forward-thinking governments and councils are keen to embrace the concept, there are several roadblocks to its implementation. “Micro-mobility is an extremely cost-effective way to get closer to our climate goals while addressing the perennial urban problems of traffic congestion and air pollution. It brings faster trips for commuters, offers an alternative for last-mile servicing and parcel delivery, and has proven health benefits for users. Studies show that compared to driving, riding an e-bike improves our physical health, happiness and overall sense of wellbeing[6],” explains Day.

Image: https://collections.naturalsciences.org/?u=ebikes-power-of-possibility-jj-Z5bKy3Sv

Branko Miletic

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