ASK
THE
EXPERTS
Experts say micro-mobility will emerge as a major form of transportation, especially in cities and on campuses, as we re-open after COVID-19. How do you think the industry could best take advantage of this trend?
Kelsey Owens Director of Municipal Sales Passport The industry should focus on the equitable distribution of scooters and relationship-building with mobility providers. By following the rules of parking management— paying for idle time at the curb— cities can develop policies to regulate curb space, incentivize desirable distribution of scooters, and create a foundation for strong partnerships with innovative mobility providers.
Melonie Curry, MBA
Kim Jackson, CAPP
Staff Analyst ParkHouston
Director of Parking and Transportation Princeton University
Municipalities should work closely with agencies repurposing parking lanes to bike lanes. Other agencies do not normally consider the impact of overflow parking in neighborhoods and the economic cost of the loss of parking for businesses that may not have an off-street option. Facility operators could look at repurposing parking spaces for scooters and bikes. Garages can provide safe and secure parking.
Personal micro-mobility will be critical as more cities, colleges, and universities re-open. Usage will increase as many commuters do not want to ride transit, or worse, cannot ride transit due to reduced capacity. Policies, parking and storage are key along with organizational flexibility.
Erik Nelson, PCIP
Sharada Strasmore
Director of Operations and Technology Consulting Walker Consultants
Shared Micromobility Planner District Department of Transporation
Parking industry professionals should educate themselves on how these programs could fit into their broader transportation systems by learning how micro-mobility companies operate, how the services work for end users, and how they could best work in each individual’s situation. Parking professionals deserve a seat at the table in defining and executing micro-mobility offerings.
Organizations need to refine their operational model and invest in behavior change and ongoing rider education to reduce friction in their relationships with the community and their regulators. Ideas include ongoing training in how to park and operate vehicles supplemented by appropriate balancing and staging that reflects the permit restrictions and needs of the residents.
/ HAVE A QUESTION? Send it to editor@parking-mobility.org and watch this space for answers from the experts.
The opinions and thoughts expressed by the contributors do not necessarily reflect the opinions and viewpoints of the International Parking & Mobility Institute or official policies of IPMI.
16 PARKING & MOBILITY / SEPTEMBER 2020 / PARKING-MOBILITY.ORG