Welcome to the Shared-Use Mobility Center’s weekly guide to the most impactful news, thought-provoking articles and innovative technologies that are shaping our transportation future. We believe in sharing information, just like sharing cars, bikes, and scooters, so if there’s anything additional you’d like to see, just drop us a line.
Announcements
Meet, Mingle, and Toast Mobility at SUMC’s NACTO Reception
—almost sold out!
Tues, Sept 10 | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm | The Fifth Social Club, Toronto
If you’re going to NACTO’s Designing Cities 2019 Conference or will be in the Toronto area on September 10th, join SUMC for our popular post-NACTO happy hour, sponsored by Populus and Bird. Connect with innovative city leaders, and shared mobility practitioners and partners. Complimentary beer, wine, and hors d’oeuvres will be served.
Request for Information: California Clean Mobility Options – Mobility Operators
California Air Resources Board, Shared-Use Mobility Center, CALSTART
Deadline: September 17, 2019
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is in the process of launching Clean Mobility Options for Disadvantaged Communities, a grantmaking and capacity-building program to support small-scale, zero-emission mobility services in low-income and disadvantaged communities around the State. SUMC and CALSTART are managing the program and issuing an RFI to obtain information in support of program design and the development of a Mobility Provider Directory. The RFI is intended for mobility operators who wish to partner with communities to build and operate mobility services. Questions regarding this RFI may be directed to [email protected].
An informational webinar will be held Tuesday, September 3rd at 10:00 am Pacific Daylight Time. Please register here to participate in the webinar.
Ridehailing/Carsharing/Carpooling
An EV carsharing pilot is coming to the rural area of Hood River, OR by way of the Clean Rural Shared Electric Mobility project as part of a collaboration between Portland mobility organization Forth, Honda, and Envoy Technologies.
In the UK, ridehail drivers are fighting for access to their data with companies like Uber to gain better control over the narrative surrounding their classification as full-time workers.
Forbes looks into the term “ridesharing” and how it’s evolved since TNCs were just starting out 10 years ago. “Ridepooling”, it offers, is a better term for on-demand rides that actually reduce vehicle-miles traveled and encourage more passengers in the same car.
Partnerships and Programs
A boon for the bus! Washington’s Pierce Transit was approved to receive $60 million from Sound Transit to build out a 14.4-mile BRT line from Tacoma to Spanaway.
The Michigan Economic Development Corp’s innovation arm PlanetM awarded over $450,000 to six companies to fund new transportation and technology projects across the state.
Waymo just launched a new Open Dataset portal containing 1,000 autonomous vehicle driving segments to encourage data sharing and support new research to improve self-driving tech. Way to go, Waymo.
Bikesharing and Micromobility
The dockless scooters that make up the new pilot program in Chicago are being used during the morning/evening rush hour period, about 70% of all e-scooter miles traveled, according to a new study by DePaul University’s Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development.
The Seattle Department of Transportation hopes to launch dockless scooters in the City by the first half of 2020. Scheduling a “public engagement period” is a good place to start.
Toronto will be getting its first scooter-sharing service in the coming weeks in the City’s Distillery District through Bird Canada, but there are hurdles to overcome before the new mobility trend gets a full rollout.
Will micromobility change transportation as we know it? Dataconomy looks at the corporate and startup partnerships that provide a glimpse into our (hopefully affordable, equitable, and accessible) multimodal future.
Transit
Via will be licensing its on-demand routing technology to the New York City Department of Education to help upgrade the yellow bus network for the city’s entire school system.
Elon Musk pegged the Singaporean government as “not supportive” of growing electric vehicle use in the city-state. Singapore’s Minister for the Environment shot back that the country doesn’t care about the private EV “lifestyle” as much as bringing “proper solutions that will address climate problems”, such as EV buses and taxis.
Eugene, OR has a new on-demand EV shuttle service (EmGo) as part of a new partnership between the Lane Transit District, Lane Council of Governments, and RideZero.
The Patriot Act with Hasan Minahj stated that “Everyone hates public transportation” while talking about the public’s general negative outlook on transit agencies’ through social media. Planetizen wants to remind you why it can be a joy for many to use and how it can strenthen social connections, help build communities and liberate you from the private car “bubble”.
Technology
New York City’s Taxi and Limousine Commission has a new TLC Data Hub tool that visualizes data from for-hire vehicles, yellow/green taxis, and other shared rides around the city.
Don’t forget the +1. Waze is upgrading its carpooling tech to allow drivers to pick up multiple riders for more shared commutes in the US, Brazil, Mexico, and Israel.
Miami-Dade Department of Transportation and Public Works and Cubic Transportation Systems have announced new digital payment integration for the EASY Card fare system that’s, well, easier. Riders can pay Metrorail fares at the gate using contactless-enabled bank cards and digital wallets.
Cities have been calling for more transparent data standards in hopes that private mobility operators join the movement for broader data sharing across the transportation industry. A few platforms and collectives are working to make that universal data hub for new mobility technology similar what GTFS did for transit data.
Urban Sustainability
New York’s Regional Plan Association is drafting up a bike “master plan” to create a complete and comprehensive framework for a five-borough, protected bike lane network in the region.
The ease of accessing transit (and other modes for that matter) is a major factor in reducing solo driving and getting more people on cleaner mobility options according to new research from the Institute of Theoretical Physics in Saclay, France.
A dilapidated and dead highway in Akron, OH called the Innerbelt is a ruin of divided neighborhoods and displaced residents that officials and planners hope to transform into a vibrant public park. Getting there, though, will take some work.
As the fastest growing mode of transportation, cycling is a force for the development of more densely populated communities that support sustainable, healthy living. We need to plan for and encourage bicycle-oriented development to keep the momentum going.
Requests for Proposals, Qualifications, or Information
RFI: California Clean Mobility Options – Mobility Operators
California Air Resources Board, Shared-Use Mobility Center, CALSTART
Deadline: September 17, 2019
RFI: Best Practices and Emerging Technologies in Shared Active Transportation
Connecticut Metropolitan Council of Governments and Greater Bridgeport Transit
Bridgeport, CT
Deadline: September 30, 2019
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