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In recent years, micromobility devices have taken over the street corners and sidewalks of urban areas throughout the United States. Once appearing to be a fad, micromobility devices have proven that they are here to stay for the long term. Micromobility devices are classified as lightweight vehicles designed for personal travel over short distances. It can be powered either electrically or by humans, such as bicycles, e-bikes and e-scooters. Despite their prevalence, irresponsible usage of micromobility devices has led to a spike in micromobility accidents.
In 2023, 157 million trips were taken on bike and scooter share platforms, demonstrating the rise of micromobility users. However, societal usage of cars is higher than that of micromobility devices, as 45 percent of people use private cars, while 16 percent of people use micromobility devices. 2.6 million were injured in motor vehicle accidents, and 2.5 million suffered bicycle injuries. However, cars have a wider global usage than micromobility devices, suggesting that there may be a higher proportion of injuries among micromobility users compared to car users.
One of the reasons micromobility accidents are so prevalent is the lack of visibility. Cars are typically larger and can be easily seen by other cars, while scooters and bikers appear smaller and can be easily missed by drivers, leading to collisions. As a micromobility device user, it can be difficult to increase visibility, especially at certain times of the day. With less light emitted from micromobility devices at night, drivers have a lower chance of spotting these users and are already not expecting to see a bike or scooter during that time of day.
Despite these challenges, micromobility devices are providing some users with a safe riding experience. The safety of micromobility devices increases significantly in major cities with extensive bike and scooter share networks, thanks to the established infrastructure for their users, according to a report from the National Association of City/Transportation Officials. The addition of established and respected bike lanes and etiquette helps preserve the safety of all micromobility device users. In these cities, many of the marketed benefits of micromobility devices are supported by their established network, enabling them to achieve scale. However, these effects are limited to urban areas with highly established bike and scooter share networks, which only account for a handful of cities across the country with micromobility device users. The average city with a micromobility device community faces a significant danger compared to using a motor vehicle.
In conclusion, using cars is a safer method of transportation due to the established systems that protect individuals on the road, as well as the larger visual presence and lower injury rates associated with cars, which are not present for micromobility device users. With a greater proportion of injuries with micromobility devices than cars, there is a clear unnecessary risk being taken by those using them. Using cars is a safer method of transportation, but safety and road laws should still be accounted for anywhere on the road, including micromobility users, for protection gear and laws regarding micromobility devices.
