February 19, 2025

From Mindshift to Modeshift Ep 7: The Evolution of Micromobility

Micromobility is reshaping the way we navigate cities, challenging perceptions and influencing transportation choices. In a recent interview, Amir Hassanpour, a PhD candidate at The University of British Columbia, shared insights from his research on emerging modes of transportation, emphasizing how mindshift and modeshift interact to shape urban mobility. His research, conducted in partnership with TransLink, investigates the implications of micromobility adoption in Metro Vancouver and how cities can prepare for the growing presence of e-bikes, e-scooters, electric skateboards, and self-balancing unicycles.

"For every city I visit, the first thing I check is if they have bike-sharing or scooter-sharing. That’s just how I get around. It’s fascinating to see how different cities integrate micromobility into their infrastructure."

amir hassanpour

Amir Hassanpour

University of British Columbia

Keep reading for the key insights from the webinar, or watch the full session below. New episodes launch every month, so stay tuned!

To explore Amir’s work further, check out his project summary:

‘Four-Year Trends of Personal Mobility Devices in Metropolitan Vancouver: The Evolution of Mode Shares, Speeds, and Comfort in Off-Street Paths’.

Mindshift & Modeshift

Episode Seven: The Evolution of Micromobility

Webinar Panel

Venkatesh Gopal

CEO | movmi

Amir Hassanpour

PhD Candidate | UBC

The Role of Mindshift in Transportation Evolution

Mindshift in mobility is about changing perceptions—of utility, safety, and comfort. When a new mode of transport enters the scene, public acceptance plays a crucial role in its adoption.

“Mindshift has to do with perceptions—does this device have utility for me? Do I feel safe riding it? Am I comfortable sharing space with others?” Amir explained.

For example, self-balancing unicycles were initially seen as a niche, futuristic mode of travel, but over time, they have gained visibility.

“When I was talking to people from the City of Vancouver about electric unicycles, they said, ‘Oh yeah, we know all of them. There’s just a handful of people riding them right now.’ But that’s how it starts—then they grow, they build a community, and suddenly they have an Instagram account where you can follow their amazing content.”

These shifts don’t just happen overnight. They often begin with a small group of early adopters who influence others by demonstrating the practicality and excitement of new micromobility options.

“Think about Nespresso machines. You go to a friend’s house, they have one, and suddenly, you want one too. Before you know it, everyone has a Nespresso machine. The same thing happens with micromobility.”

Modeshift: When Perception Becomes Action

Mindshift eventually leads to modeshift—the actual transition from traditional transportation methods to new forms of micromobility.

“If I now perceive self-balancing unicycles as safe and useful, am I going to go ahead and buy one? That’s modeshift.”

Modeshift can be driven by both individual choices and broader policy decisions. Some people adopt new modes of transport before regulations catch up, while others wait for infrastructure changes to make new options more accessible.

This shift accelerates when people see micromobility being successfully used by others, leading to a tipping point where adoption grows rapidly.

“For some people, seeing an electric bike in action changes their perspective. They realize, ‘Oh, I don’t have to break a sweat on my commute. I can cycle without getting tired.’ And suddenly, they’re interested in buying one.”

Micromobility Growth: What the Data Tells Us

Based on data collected from 2019-2023, Amir and his team observed a quadrupling in the number of electric micromobility devices, with e-bikes and e-scooters leading the charge. However, despite their increasing numbers, public perception often overestimates their prevalence and speed.

“People think micromobility devices are much faster than they actually are. Our study shows electric bikes are only about 2-3 km/h faster than regular bikes, yet people assume they’re zooming at 30 km/h!”

In reality, the average speed of an electric bike is around 20-22 km/h, and even fast-moving micromobility devices are not as common as people believe.

“When you see an electric bike, your brain starts noticing them everywhere. It’s the same phenomenon as when you talk about a specific car—suddenly, you see it on the road all the time.”

This perception gap has real-world consequences, as cities struggle to plan infrastructure based on assumptions rather than actual usage data.

The Infrastructure Dilemma: Where Do Micromobility Devices Belong?

One of the biggest urban planning challenges is deciding where micromobility fits within existing transport infrastructure. Cities are experimenting with three main approaches:

Banning Micromobility – Some cities prohibit electric scooters or bikes, citing safety concerns. However, Amir warns that this approach forgoes the benefits of reducing congestion and emissions.
Creating Separate Lanes for Micromobility – In an ideal world, each vehicle type would have its own space, but space constraints in most cities make this impractical.
Shared Spaces with Cyclists & Pedestrians – The most common approach is to integrate micromobility into existing bike lanes. However, pedestrians often feel unsafe sharing paths with high-speed electric vehicles.

“If tomorrow, you see electric scooters riding on sidewalks, you can’t really complain—where else would they go? If someone is delivering food on Broadway and the only way to get to the restaurant is the sidewalk, that’s what they’re going to use.”

As micromobility grows, it will become increasingly important to redesign urban spaces with shared mobility in mind.

“We need to lower the threshold for physically separating pedestrians from wheel-based mobility. The more electrification we see, the more important this will become.”

The Regulatory Gap: Keeping Up with the Shift

The rapid adoption of micromobility devices has outpaced regulation, leading to inconsistencies in enforcement. For instance, British Columbia’s e-scooter pilot program limited scooters to 24 km/h, but research shows many riders exceed this limit.

“Half of all e-scooters on the road today don’t adhere to speed restrictions. Shared scooters won’t have this problem because they come with built-in speed limiters.”

This discrepancy between personal and shared micromobility creates challenges for enforcement and public safety.

“We don’t know whether the increase in e-scooter ridership happened because of the pilot program or if it was going to happen anyway. But in municipalities that participated in the pilot and those that didn’t, we see similar trends.”

One of the key recommendations from Amir’s research is updating motor vehicle regulations to better classify micromobility devices and establish standardized infrastructure and speed guidelines.

The Regulatory Gap: Keeping Up with the Shift

To successfully integrate micromobility into urban landscapes, cities must:

✅ Revise outdated policies – Current design standards still use traditional bicycles as the baseline. Planners must consider the full range of micromobility devices when designing bike lanes.

✅ Expand protected lanes for vulnerable users – As speeds increase, pedestrian safety becomes a major concern. Separation is key.

✅ Leverage shared mobility solutions – Shared micromobility services ensure standardized speeds, improving safety and public perception.

✅ Invest in public education – Many misconceptions about micromobility stem from a lack of awareness. Clear communication can help shift perceptions in favor of safer, more sustainable transport.

“We are ready. We just need to take proactive steps to make sure that we can accommodate these devices safely and comfortably for everyone.” Amir concluded.

Stay tuned for the next edition of the “Mindshift to Modeshift” webinar series, where we will continue to explore innovative ways to transform transportation habits and create more sustainable cities.