Ride AI

In this episode we discuss the recent Bird Platform announcement, why this was predictable given the dynamics of the market, and how franchising might evolve in the future.

We also cover:

- Dediu’s Law: Horace’s thesis that we’ll see 10x growth annually for the next 5–6 years in micromobility trip numbers.

- How challenges related to social technologies like local bureaucracy/current scooter caps will be overcome.

- The [VeloMetro/Veemo shared covered trike system](https://www.velometro.com/) that has emerged in Vancouver and whether this is likely to catch on.

In this episode we discuss the recent Bird Platform announcement, why this was predictable given the dynamics of the market, and how franchising might evolve in the future.

We also cover:

- Dediu’s Law: Horace’s thesis that we’ll see 10x growth annually for the next 5–6 years in micromobility trip numbers.

- How challenges related to social technologies like local bureaucracy/current scooter caps will be overcome.

- The [VeloMetro/Veemo shared covered trike system](https://www.velometro.com/) that has emerged in Vancouver and whether this is likely to catch on.

On today's episode, we're joined by Dr Chris Cherry (@drchrischerry), Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Tennessee and Director of Light Electric Vehicle Education and Research (LEVER) Initiative, an international academic/industry research consortium on lightweight and low speed EV's about the environmental and social implications of micromobility.

We discuss:

- How China's electric micromobility sector has grown to lead the world, and how Chris and his colleagues have worked to understand it.

- The framework that they use to understand the benefits that lightweight electric utility vehicles offer users - notably low cost, point to point, low emission transport.

- The emission and energy use of micromobility vehicles compared to other options.

- How to think about whether micromobility is additive or substitutive trips vs. incumbent modes of transport.

- What the role of fun plays in micromobility adoption.

- Which cities will benefit the most from the ride of micromobility and why.

Apologies for the slightly jerky editing - had a few audio editing issues.

Be sure to let us know what you think on Twitter at @asymco and @oliverbruce!

On today’s episode, we’re joined by Dr Chris Cherry (@drchrischerry), Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Tennessee and Director of Light Electric Vehicle Education and Research (LEVER) Initiative, an international academic/industry research consortium on lightweight and low speed EV’s about the environmental and social implications of micromobility.

We discuss:

- How China’s electric micromobility sector has grown to lead the world, and how Chris and his colleagues have worked to understand it.

- The framework that they use to understand the benefits that lightweight electric utility vehicles offer users — notably low cost, point to point, low emission transport.

- The emission and energy use of micromobility vehicles compared to other options.

- How to think about whether micromobility is additive or substitutive trips vs. incumbent modes of transport.

- What the role of fun plays in micromobility adoption.

- Which cities will benefit the most from the ride of micromobility and why.

On today’s episode, we’re joined by Dr Chris Cherry (@drchrischerry), Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Tennessee and Director of Light Electric Vehicle Education and Research (LEVER) Initiative, an international academic/industry research consortium on lightweight and low speed EV’s about the environmental and social implications of micromobility.

We discuss:

- How China’s electric micromobility sector has grown to lead the world, and how Chris and his colleagues have worked to understand it.

- The framework that they use to understand the benefits that lightweight electric utility vehicles offer users — notably low cost, point to point, low emission transport.

- The emission and energy use of micromobility vehicles compared to other options.

- How to think about whether micromobility is additive or substitutive trips vs. incumbent modes of transport.

- What the role of fun plays in micromobility adoption.

- Which cities will benefit the most from the ride of micromobility and why.

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Twitter micromobility celebrity Michal Naka (@michalnaka), to talk about scooters, how they’re evolving in hardware and their interactions with cities and what the future might look like. It’s a packed episode.

Specifically we cover:

- How Michal ended up in micromobility through his skepticism of autonomous cars. (5:50->)

- How the most valuable miles travelled are likely to be addressed by micromobility and not autonomous. (9:20->)

- The history of the scooter supply chain.(13:00->)

- The tradeoff that companies are making between opex and capex. (25:50->)

- What future evolutions we’re likely to see in (29:30->)

- How cities are responding to these new business models, and what we’re likely to see in the future. (33:46->)

- How the diffusion theory applies to scooters and their evolution. (40:30->)

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Twitter micromobility celebrity Michal Naka (@michalnaka), to talk about scooters, how they’re evolving in hardware and their interactions with cities and what the future might look like. It’s a packed episode.

Specifically we cover:

- How Michal ended up in micromobility through his skepticism of autonomous cars. (5:50->)

- How the most valuable miles travelled are likely to be addressed by micromobility and not autonomous. (9:20->)

- The history of the scooter supply chain.(13:00->)

- The tradeoff that companies are making between opex and capex. (25:50->)

- What future evolutions we’re likely to see in (29:30->)

- How cities are responding to these new business models, and what we’re likely to see in the future. (33:46->)

- How the diffusion theory applies to scooters and their evolution. (40:30->)

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Twitter micromobility celebrity Michal Naka (@michalnaka), to talk about scooters, how they’re evolving in hardware and their interactions with cities and what the future might look like. It’s a packed episode.

Specifically we cover:

- How Michal ended up in micromobility through his skepticism of autonomous cars. (5:50->)

- How the most valuable miles travelled are likely to be addressed by micromobility and not autonomous. (9:20->)

- The history of the scooter supply chain.(13:00->)

- The tradeoff that companies are making between opex and capex. (25:50->)

- What future evolutions we’re likely to see in (29:30->)

- How cities are responding to these new business models, and what we’re likely to see in the future. (33:46->)

- How the diffusion theory applies to scooters and their evolution. (40:30->)

We are no longer publishing transcripts (but are working on something exciting related to that - more soon!). Please let us know what you think on Twitter at @asymco or @oliverbruce. Thanks!

On today's episode Horace and Oliver are joined by Winston Kwon, Assistant Professor of Strategy and Social Innovation at the University of Edinburgh Business School. We discuss mobility poverty, why it matters and the role that micromobility could play in improving access to opportunities. We also touch on:

- The concept of Universal Basic Mobility (as put forward by Alex Roy) and how micromobility might enable it

- The importance of social inclusion - and how transport, specifically cars, impact it.

- How the homogeneity of suburbs is accelerating their infrastructural decline.

- Which cities/built environments will benefit the most from micromobility and which will be the most negatively impacted.

- Horace revises his estimates for the Total Addressable Market for Micromobility globally.

Many thanks to Joyride for being our sponsor again this week. We discuss on the podcast how their service is an intelligent solution for what will likely evolve to a set of hyperlocal transport markets. Check them out at joyride.city

We are no longer publishing transcripts (but are working on something exciting related to that - more soon!). Please let us know what you think on Twitter at @asymco or @oliverbruce. Thanks!

On today’s episode Horace and Oliver are joined by Winston Kwon, Assistant Professor of Strategy and Social Innovation at the University of Edinburgh Business School. We discuss mobility poverty, why it matters and the role that micromobility could play in improving access to opportunities.

We also touch on:

- The concept of Universal Basic Mobility (as put forward by Alex Roy) and how micromobility might enable it

- The importance of social inclusion — and how transport, specifically cars, impact it.

- How the homogeneity of suburbs is accelerating their infrastructural decline.

- Which cities/built environments will benefit the most from micromobility and which will be the most negatively impacted.

- Horace revises his estimates for the Total Addressable Market for Micromobility globally.