In this research, I analyzed how California’s government agencies may better assist thecoordination and standardization of shared micromobility services run by private
sector companies to better serve our marginalized communities. Previous work has
found that shared micromobility services will not aid any disadvantaged community in
a meaningful way without structural changes to our large-scale housing issues and
integration of micromobility systems to other (mass) transit services on a state and/or
regional, in contrast to local, scale.
Through the literature analysis, I identified micromobility research themes. I then
conducted semi-structured confidential interviews with 10 expert observers in both
public and private sectors on-the-record (transcripts attached) and several more offthe-record (transcripts not provided) and used the literature themes to analyze and
compare the interview material.
Interviewees overall strongly believed that both urban planners and shared
micromobility operators should develop long-term plans with government agencies to
better incorporate micromobility services in our built environment. Representatives of
both government agencies and operators expressed concerns about the “here today
and gone tomorrow” culture of these companies. Interviewees on the operational side
believed that without designated operational zones or changes in funding structures,9
they will be unable to make long-term guarantees or investments in communities. I
concluded that regional transportation planning agencies, or Metropolitan Planning
Organizations (MPOs), need to play a much larger role in the development of shared
micromobility in California. I found interviewees were open to pivoting these services
towards a true type of “public” transportation service. This might mean, for example,
the operators could be ceding control to the government in exchange for guarantees
of contracts and funding and ending current practices under which, as an example,
municipalities may make only short-term commitments of as little as one year, with
operators essentially asked to perform ongoing public services.
Lastly, although micromobility services may currently be explored by different
agencies and (local) governments, there are no clear policies that explicitly combine
housing (or land-use), equity, and shared micromobility services. Based on the
findings, I argue it is essential to have the state and MPOs develop policies to
influence long-term decision-making on local housing, land-use, and alternatives to
driving, which would support shared micromobility services. Most important to note is
that this has the potential to benefit disadvantaged communities.