How We Get Around

Personal car ownership has the allure of freedom, giving Americans the ability to drive anywhere at a moment’s notice. The reality of modern travel is that most trips are less than a few miles. We like transportation on demand, but we don’t go far.

Local governments across North America have some common goals. Here are three: (1) safe neighborhoods, (2) clean air and , and (3) be smart about limited budgets. 

Mobility is often overlooked as a measurable way to achieve those goals. In fact, modern transportation habits tend to run counter to public health and safety goals. The real and perceived need for personal cars introduces all kinds of trouble.

Personal car ownership is a pain for communities, and shared mobility is the painkiller.

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Andy Boenau explores emerging trends that are altering How We Get Around. 

You’re scratching your head about electric scooters,  

You wonder if bike share could work in the suburbs, 

You feel bad that buses aren’t used more,

You have an opinion about autonomous vehicles,

Your walking shoes need more wear, and

You wish you didn’t have to drive so much.

Mobility freedom, equitable access, emerging technology, subscription culture, and traffic safety.

We have a lot to cover.

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Is the aim of this story to turn people against Lyft? Or to suggest politicians should have the power to decide how businesses are run? Whatever the purpose, it’s manufactured outrage. 

Here we go:

“A city supervisor hopes to force Lyft to keep accepting cash for its bike rental service. Lyft announced quietly this week that it would stop accepting cash payments for its bikeshare.

City officials and transportation advocates have been quick to criticize the move for cutting out people with low incomes, and potentially immigrants, from accessing a service already largely seen as catering to affluent white men.” - SF Examiner, Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez

Ok, let me stop there. Lyft is a company making an effort to (1) give people mobility options other than a car, and (2) giving low income residents an affordable bikeshare membership. The program at the heart of this story, Bikeshare for All, is a program designed for low-income residents. You might say it’s the opposite of catering to affluent white men.

***

Andy Boenau explores emerging trends that are altering How We Get Around. 

You’re scratching your head about electric scooters,  

You wonder if bike share could work in the suburbs, 

You feel bad that buses aren’t used more,

You have an opinion about autonomous vehicles,

Your walking shoes need more wear, and

You wish you didn’t have to drive so much.

Mobility freedom, equitable access, emerging technology, subscription culture, and traffic safety.

We have a lot to cover.

***

https://twitter.com/boenau

https://linkedin.com/in/boenau

The year 2020 is upon us, so you’ll find a slew of articles recapping the last 10 years. I’ve read several on urban planning that highlight the dramatic role of the humble bicycle. This one is from Forbes.

Guess what? The best city planning idea is to design for the fundamental modes of travel - walking and bicycling. 

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https://twitter.com/boenau

https://linkedin.com/in/boenau

***

Andy Boenau explores emerging trends that are altering How We Get Around. 

You’re scratching your head about electric scooters,  

You wonder if bike share could work in the suburbs, 

You feel bad that buses aren’t used more,

You have an opinion about autonomous vehicles,

Your walking shoes need more wear, and

You wish you didn’t have to drive so much.

Mobility freedom, equitable access, emerging technology, subscription culture, and traffic safety.

We have a lot to cover.

I'm reading from one of the thousands of opinion pieces about the dangers of autonomous technology as it relates to cars. I react to these claims:

“...as with any new technology, especially one involving the transportation of human beings from point A to point B, there are inherent dangers involved.”

and

“...there are not enough solid facts to create a baseline for safety standards. As yet, the industry is unregulated which is excellent for manufacturers but bad for consumers.”

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https://twitter.com/boenau

https://linkedin.com/in/boenau

***

Andy Boenau explores emerging trends that are altering How We Get Around. 

You’re scratching your head about electric scooters,  

You wonder if bike share could work in the suburbs, 

You feel bad that buses aren’t used more,

You have an opinion about autonomous vehicles,

Your walking shoes need more wear, and

You wish you didn’t have to drive so much.

Mobility freedom, equitable access, emerging technology, subscription culture, and traffic safety.

We have a lot to cover.

“Porsche is expanding its app-based subscription service to four new cities in the U.S. and Canada, deepening its experiment i n flexible car ownership even as other automakers back away.

Monthly subscribers can drive as many as 20 different model variants, have vehicles delivered to them, and only pay for gas. Insurance and maintenance are included.” - Bloomberg, Gabrielle Coppola

Porsche tried out the Passport subscription service in Atlanta for about 2 years. Almost 200 people joined, and 80% of them had never owned a Porsche before. That’s a big deal. These are new customers, paying for access to luxury and performance -- not a single vehicle, but 20 different models.

***

Andy Boenau explores emerging trends that are altering How We Get Around. 

You’re scratching your head about electric scooters,  

You wonder if bike share could work in the suburbs, 

You feel bad that buses aren’t used more,

You have an opinion about autonomous vehicles,

Your walking shoes need more wear, and

You wish you didn’t have to drive so much.

Mobility freedom, equitable access, emerging technology, subscription culture, and traffic safety.

We have a lot to cover.

***

https://twitter.com/boenau

https://linkedin.com/in/boenau