The Mobility Hub

Your weekly guide to the latest in shared mobility

SUMC News and Announcements

 

FINAL WEEK FOUR RECORDINGS BRING THE SUMMIT HOME

On July 27, 2021, we wrapped up the 2021 National Shared Mobility Summit. Our focus was on social and political systems.

We looked at how our communities are structured and how they got that way. We questioned those involved in decision-making processes—and saw who is absent. We collaborated on how to build coalitions across sectors and political divides, so everyone sees shared, equitable, and sustainable mobility as our strongest tool to cut carbon emissions and reverse centuries of racial injustice.

We share these recordings so you can be motivated by these conversations to take the action you can to support the creation of systems that meet climate change goals and contribute to an equitable society.

We’re hiring!

Support our growing technical assistance and capacity-building work. These positions are rare opportunities to work across the public and private sectors to shape the future of mobility around climate and social equity goals.
  • Program Associates (3) based in Chicago or Los Angeles
    (currently remote; hybrid remote/in-office model to come)
  • Research Analyst based in our LA office 
    (currently remote; hybrid remote/in-office model to come)
Visit our Careers page to read full descriptions and application instructions.

New Reports Across the Shared Mobility Spectrum

TCRP Research Report 23: Recent Decline in Public Transportation Ridership: Analysis, Causes, and Responses (Pre-publication draft).

An Evaluation of the Valley Metro–Waymo Automated Vehicle RideChoice Mobility on Demand Demonstration. Valley Metro was a participant in FTA’s Mobility on Demand (MOD) Sandbox program.

GBFS (General Bikeshare Feed Specification) and Shared Mobility Data Policy for European Cities

Mobility Justice

Congratulations to Veronica Vanterpool, just named Senior Advisor to the Federal Transit Administration. Veronica also leads the Delaware Transit Corporation’s AIM project developing software that integrates fixed-route bus service, paratransit, and microtransit to create more efficient transportation to jobs and healthcare in rural Sussex County.

Environmental racism is getting the attention it needs with the implementation of the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity (OCCHE) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The first-of-its-kind office will focus on the effects of climate change on public health and the disparities BIPOC face due to climate change.

In an “overwhelming” majority, the Capital Metro board in Austin, Texas voted to establish a transit police department. While the proposal includes hiring “public safety ambassadors,” community groups point out that overpolicing hasn’t worked before and instead hurts the Black and Brown individuals who make up core ridership.

Ridehailing/Carsharing/Carpooling 

Almost 6 million people in the US miss medical care every year because of transportation issues. With the highest number of people covered by Medicaid (15% of the US population), Uber Health is helping Texas recipients bypass this issue by giving them access to non-emergency medical transportation options to and from appointments.

In a bid to raise an extra $1 billion, Indian ridehail champion Ola has its eye on Citigroup, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and Morgan Stanley for its initial public offering, and according to inside sources, could see a total valuation of $8 billion.

UK drivers’ union GMB and Uber believe the Supreme Court is slacking on enforcing the worker classification for other ridehail platforms (which includes holiday pay and a minimum wage) while worker advocates criticize Uber for not paying workers during wait periods between trips, which was part of the initial ruling.

Bikesharing & Micromobility

The Irving Park Road underbridge is complete! Chicago’s 312 RiverRun trail network— which provides people with access to 95 acres of parks, wheelchair accessible baseball fields, and playgrounds—now connects from Belmont to Montrose avenues via a breezy 1.5 mile car-free pathway for cyclists and pedestrians.

What’s the best way to kickoff a new school year? Free bikes! Working Bikes Chicago gifted 75 bikes that came along with new helmets and some instruction on basic bike skills and safety to West Loop children aged 2 to 10.

E-bike usage is on the rise and German startup Dance wants in on the boom with the launch of its e-bike subscription service in Berlin that gives users on-demand access to repairs and maintenance—and a detachable battery to boot.

Transit

Local bus and train operations, especially in low-income rural areas, rely on state and municipal funds to keep the wheels moving but see few federal dollars to expand access. Public transportation researcher and advocate Yonah Freemark explores how a $20 billion infusion could be the lifeline that communities need for more equitable transit.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers is sending Milwaukee and Madison $25 million in combined federal stimulus funds as public transit relief, meant for much-needed bus and maintenance upgrades. This won’t make up for the GOP-backed $40-million budget cuts for Milwaukee county over the next two years though.

As a result of severe flooding, itself the result of disruptive weather patterns due to global warming, NYC transit was immobilized and as of Thursday, and is only crawling along. While the City lifted the travel ban, they asked residents to avoid unnecessary trips. You know what’s unnecessary? Climate change.

Technology

 

A new study from the Labor and Worklife Program at Harvard Law School found that electric, autonomous ‘robotaxis’ could do more harm than good—increasing trips, vehicle miles traveled and emissions—unless they are shared. To avoid this disaster, these vehicles “would need to be 55% cleaner than today’s EVs—or people need to stop riding solo.”

Great MaaS news coming your way from The Netherlands, where Arriva, a public transport company, launched its first MaaS multimodal travel app with accessibility features that connect users to public transport, shared mobility options and micromobility modes.

Ford is testing its latest electric E-Transit cargo van in the UK, Germany, and Norway ahead of its global launch, aiming to sustainably shift the commercial transportation industry into green territory.

Sustainability

How do you reduce car crashes while also cutting down noise and air pollution? Paris has the answer: slow down cars. The city’s speed limit is now set at 18 mph (30 km/h)—with the exception of some main roads—as Paris gets more and more pedestrian friendly.

This goes out to the cities out there: you are completely able to slow traffic, prioritize people over throughput, ensure street safety, and increase productivity—simultaneously. Get started, keep going, and you’ve got this.

Free parking is the carrot on the stick for single use cars, rewarding driving and taking up valuable community space. But paid parking is only a band-aid solution unless you stop new off-street parking developments, fix the price to park, ensure that those funds go towards the community, and incentivize shared mobility.

Project Funding Opportunities

RFI: Next Generation Paratransit System
The Delaware Transit Corporation (DTC)
Deadline: September 10
Email [email protected] for the RFI package

RFP: Human Services Transportation Plan
Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (Lynx)
Orlando, FL
Deadline: September, 10

RFP: Community Mobility Read-to-Launch Grants
National Center for Mobility Management
Deadline: October 15

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