Talking to single mothers, college students, and construction workers needing transportation to sites in different areas of the city, Pittsburgh’s director of transportation, Karina Ricks, realized the challenge of finding a public transportation system that works for everyone. In response, she created the Pittsburgh Micromobility Collective to reduce carbon emissions and facilitate transportation for the city’s wide variety of citizens.
The projects involve “mobility hubs”, or clusters of mobility options organized around transportation sites, such as train stations, that offer multiple shared economy options like electric scooters, bikes, Lyft, Waze Carpool, and Zipcar, all in one place.
Initially, the collective was concerned about competition between independent companies, but contractors seem to recognize that different products appeal to different groups and that easily accessible hubs will offer a boost in users for all companies. From commuting to stopping by the laundromat, the reasons people need transportation are diverse, and Pittsburgh’s innovative Micromobility Collective represents a greener way to facilitate everyone’s needs.
