Micromobility is having a macro impact across the country.
The use of shared scooters, bicycles, and other small, low-speed devices intended as an efficient “first/last mile” solution has increased 35-fold since 2010, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Americans took 133 million trips on these largely electric devices in 2023—a 16 percent jump from the previous year.
In DC, e-bikes and e-scooters are ubiquitous. Riders include individuals running errands, parents with young kids in tow, food delivery workers, and Washingtonians just out for a fun city spin.
Between January and June 2024, riders in DC took more than 3.3 million micromobility trips, according to Greater Greater Washington (GGW). The DC Department of Transportation reports that the city boasts about 12,000 shareable e-bikes and e-scooters.
Capital Bikeshare—which had more than 700 stations and 5,400 bikes across the DC area as of January 2023—deserves much credit for expanding the use of micromobility, says Alex Baca, SPA/MPA ’19, DC policy director at GGW. “That’s a massive public investment that DC should be really proud of.”
As a low-carbon alternative to vehicles, micromobility devices help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, furthering the Sustainable DC 2.0 plan advanced by Mayor Muriel Bowser, SPA/MPP ’00. “Micromobility is one small piece of making the District a little bit more resilient to climate change,” Baca says.
Scooters and bikes are also helpful mobility aids for people with disabilities, says Marissa Ditkowsky, WCL/JD ’19, an adjunct professor in disability rights at AU’s Washington College of Law. “It takes less effort to get around, meaning there is greater inclusion and access to community, especially in transportation deserts.”
However, Ditkowsky also notes that devices discarded on sidewalks and curb cuts are problematic. “We rely on sidewalks to be a certain width, especially when someone is using a wheelchair to get around. And we rely on curb cuts to get on and off sidewalks.”
While no one is calling on DC to slam the brakes on micromobility, there are also concerns about safety regulations, theft, and devices being discarded on people’s lawns.
AU community members are considering the issue of micromobility from all angles. Meet a few of them here.
“For me, the joy of bicycles, e-bikes, and e-scooters is that I am not surrounded by 5,000 pounds of metal. I can enjoy my neighborhood and appreciate everything around me. I bike everywhere I go, and in 2018, I donated my car to WAMU.”
—Monica Morin, catalog and degree audit coordinator in the Office of the University Registrar and a cycling instructor for the Washington Area Bicyclist Association and the League of American Bicyclists
“While micromobility devices offer a quick transit alternative, their tendency to blend with both pedestrian and vehicle traffic creates unique safety concerns. For cities looking to lower emissions and reduce congestion sustainably, prioritizing robust public transportation systems—like buses and metros—remains a far more effective and environmentally friendly solution.”
—Julie Anderson, director of the sustainability management master’s program in the Kogod School of Business
“Transportation is now the leading source of climate-related emissions and a leading source of air pollution. Micromobility is part of a much broader strategy, which includes mass transit, to reduce emissions and air pollution by encouraging less reliance on the use of private vehicles.”
—Dan Fiorino, director of the Center for Environmental Policy in the School of Public Affairs
“Micromobility really fills that last-mile gap. We know that many DC residents use public transportation—bus, Metro, or both. But these options often don’t leave people at their destination, especially in parts of Ward 3, Ward 5, and east of the Anacostia River. Micromobility options help people close that gap.”
—Christian Damiana, SPA/BA ’22, MA ’23, a former aide to Ward 3 DC Councilmember Matthew Frumin, who serves on the Council’s Committee on Transportation and the Environment
“Micromobility is good for the environment and can save time for riders. Say I’m going from Dupont Circle to downtown. If I ride an e-bike or an e-scooter, I can get there faster than if I drive.”
—Ernest Chrappah, CAS/BA ’20, owner of Ernst and Co., a consultancy that advises government agencies on transportation strategy and other issues