More cycles, cargo bikes and e-scooters on our streets are causing a shortage of parking spaces for these ‘micromoblities.’ Parking must double rapidly based on rising cycling levels, the roll-out of e-scooter hire trials and other factors, says new research from the London Cycling Campaign’s Policy Forum.
“Decarbonising road transport by 2030 will require a massive expansion of secure, convenient and inclusive parking places for Londoners to leave their cycles and scooters. Current planning is woefully inadequate to this task and the Mayor and boroughs must set their sights higher,” said Pearl Ahrens, Co-chair, Policy Forum.
In the week e-scooter trials started in London, the LCC’s report on micromobility parking good practice provides recommendations for local authorities and operators. Key points include:
- ‘Dockless’ e-scooter and e-bike hire schemes must provide carefully defined parking locations and ensure they’re used
- Provision for parking cycles needs to be inclusive and secure
- To meet increased demand from cycle, scooter and cargo-bike users, parking for these modes must grow much faster than currently planned
Beyond the ‘Sheffield’ stand – a ‘joined up’ approach to parking - ‘Micromobility’ parking should increasingly be integrated with transport, public realm improvements and freight and servicing consolidation hubs. In other words, Londoners and visitors should increasingly be able to find parking for a wider range of cycles (including cargo e-bikes), as well as e-scooters, at bus and tube stations and to enable switching of loads from lorries to cycles via ‘last mile’ drop-off hubs.
LCC’s report reviews the literature (with extensive references) on the rapidly changing area of ‘micromobility,’ looking at the design, scope and scale of parking required to enable mass cycling and scooting in London. It examines the facilities required for new micromobilities such as shared (‘dockless’) e-scooters and e-bikes as well as adapted cycles suitable for disabled people, non-electrified bicycles and e-cargo cycles.
Why is this so important for our cities?
A mass modal shift away from car use to walking, cycling, public transport and new, shared mobility options will be essential to decarbonising the UK’s roads. This also means reallocating road space away from private cars, to meet the requirements of more sustainable modes and ensure equitable access.
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