Project Summary

The tool would provide local authorities with an independent, data-driven methodology to plan for shared micromobility schemes and their expansion.The tool will provide local authorities with evidence-based knowledge on:The type of shared micromobility scheme most appropriate locallyHow a shared micromobility scheme can plug mobility gapsWhat size of fleet and service area are more suited to the local context, and commercially attractive to private operatorsThe type and location of supporting infrastructure required – for example parking bays and cycle infrastructureHow to make the most of available public funding to grow the modal share of micromobility 

Project Achievements

Micromobility Planner was built using cloud-based infrastructure and geospatial analysis tools to ensure technical viability, scalability, and user-friendliness. The project leveraged extensive experience in developing GIS-based data models across the UK, Europe, and Canada. The site suitability model blends highly granular data (at street level) sourced from the Census 2021, public transport accessibility level analysis and data points from existing shared micromobility schemes. The project followed an iterative development approach, using feedback from local authorities to test and refine the model.

Conclusions

We anticipate Micromobility Planner will help local authorities design successful shared micromobility schemes that increase ridership and the diversity of adopters. Micromobility Planner will also help persuade local authorities to bring forward schemes or extensions to existing schemes. This means more people in the UK will have the option to use a shared micromobility scheme instead of driving – around a quarter of trips made using a bike or e-scooter share in the UK would have been made by private car otherwise. Micromobility Planner can also identify priority areas for improvement in active travel infrastructure. Micromobility Planner will have impact thanks to its easy-to- use interface and low cost – access will be significantly cheaper and quicker than a bespoke analysis, for similar results.

Next Steps

The next steps for our project include marketing and commercialisation. We are focused on finalising use cases and moving the tool towards full commercialisation. This includes preparing the outreach strategy and pricing structure in anticipation of a commercial launch in Autumn 2024.