John is CEO at Scribe, co-founder of SyncNorwich (Tech & Startup Community), and Founder of Sync the City – Norwich’s annual 54 Hour Tech Startup Event. John’s passion is building civic technology (technology to serve the people). At Scribefest 2022, John shared his thoughts on current transport and the challenges faced, along with what future transport could look like - including microtransit and micromobility.

1. Confidential Proudly prepared by Scribe Version 1.0
The Future
of Mobility
Scribe
Making local communities smarter

2. People who move are happy people
Studies found out-of-home mobility strongly associated with higher quality of life
Access jobs, education, training, healthcare, affordable food and leisure
opportunities
Creates better well being
Dissatisfaction with travel, or access to no transport (driving) contributes to lower
subjective wellbeing and depressive symptoms

3. Transport challenges
● Reduction in Public transport
services
● Lack of transport links
● Increasing traffic congestion &
accidents
● Supporting transition to electric
vehicles
● Reducing carbon emissions and
achieving net zero carbon
emissions by 2050
# trips made per person (2020)
% Carbon emissions by mode

4. The Future of
Transport
Transport will be more accessible,
sustainable and available
Sustainable - move away from
internal combustion engine, to
electrific, hydrogen and smaller
vehicles
Accessible - meeting underserved
communities with lower incomes
or physical mobility issues
Available - providing more on
demand and shared services

5. Brief history of transport
3000 BCE 500 AD 1910
1805 1950

6. 3000 BCE 500 AD 1910
1805 1950 ??
Its 2022 - where is teleportation?

7. The Last Big
Change was the
horse in 1910
When the car disrupted the horse

9. ● Cars got prioritised over people in public space
usage.
● Changed the shape of cities, towns and villages
○ 10-20% urban space dedicated to cars
○ 96% of time cars are stationary
○ 38% car journeys under 2 miles, average 8.4 miles
○ 60% with no passengers (average 7.7 miles)
○ 5 a day killed by cars in UK
● Energy used to transport 1,300kg for a 70 kg
payload (5%)
The (not-so) humble car

10. Big Challenge - Big Opportunity

12. Future Mobility
Zones
The Government has called for new
evidence on UK transport laws and
launched a £90 million technology trial to
boost smart transport initiatives in four
areas across the country.

13. Major update to Highway Code.
Those at most risk in the event of an
accident are at the top of the hierarchy.
Drivers of larger vehicles to look after more
vulnerable road users.
Hierarchy of Road
users

14. Mass transit - traditional public transport
Microtransit - demand responsive mini bus
for hire.
Micromobility ( 1-5 mile trips) - range of
small, lightweight vehicles (usually electric)
operating at speeds typically below 15 mph
and driven by users personally
Ride hailing - riders hire a personal driver to
take them to a destination
Ride sharing - an arrangement in which a
passenger travels in a private vehicle driven
by its owner, free or for a fee
Self driving - a robotic car capable of sensing
its environment and moving safely with little
or no human input.
Transport modes -
now and future

15. Car v Bus
Private cars versus mass public
transport

16. Microtransit
Highly flexible routing and
scheduling (based on passenger
demand) of a shared minibus
Pick-up/drop-off stops are (slightly)
restricted
On-demand microtransit could help
urban environments reduce traffic
by 15% to 30%.
Compliments mass public transport
- cost and convenience

17. Microtransit (USA)
● 100+ microtransit systems are operating
in about 40 states
● Filling gaps in traditional public
transportation networks
● Fixed or flexible routes and schedules, as
well as with on-demand scheduling
● 40% of all rides began or ended within
300 feet of an affordable housing
location in Jersey City

18. Microtransit (UK)
Stagecoach in South Wales services E2 and
E4 will be replaced with the new flexible
bus service on 14 June 2021.
Great solution for “transit deserts” or
replacing low usage/high cost fixed
schedule bus routes.

19. Micromobility
range of small, lightweight vehicles
(usually electric) operating at speeds
typically below 15 mph and driven by
users personally
Human-powered or electric, weighing
less than 500kg, excludes devices
powered by internal combustion
engine
Usually accessed through a shared
fleet, but also privately owned.
Helps to solve road congestion
Helps reduce air pollution
Right sized solution - Typically,
e-scooters weigh 8-15kg.
Offers affordable personal transport
to commuters

20. Small & lightweight electric vehicles
Micromobility

21. Towns and Cities in USA now
making bike and e-scooter sharing
programs more available to people
from underserved communities,
with lower income, or who have
physical mobility issues.
Accessible
Vehicles

22. Autonomous robot that provides "last
mile" delivery services
Delivery robots can be used in
different settings such as
● Food/groceries delivery
● Package delivery
● Room service
● Hospital delivery
● Humanitarian logistics
Benefits of delivery robots
● Elderly Assistance
● Environmentally friendly
● Affordable delivery
● Increased Safety
Accessible
Vehicles

23. Wheels to Work
Scheme for the
future planned
Micromobility in UK
28.7% trips replaced
car/van/motorbike/moped
Green, accessible and
covid safe way for key
workers to travel to and
from work
Challenges - safety, regulations, infrastructure, life span
280,000 car journeys
have been avoided,
equating to over 500,000
miles.

24. Watch this space

25. A mobility hub is a recognisable place with
an offer of different and connected
transport modes supplemented with
enhanced facilities and information
features to both attract and benefit the
traveller.
Mobility Hubs

26. Mobility Hubs
Plugging gaps in the public transport
network
Smarter sustainable transport
planning
Convenience - seamless
switches to multiple modes

27. ● Low charger - classic 3
pin, 240 volts around 3
kw/hour very time
consuming around 11/12
hours
● Fast charger 7kw - 5/6
hours charging, requiries
installation.
● Super Chargers -
50kw/350kw ultra rapid
chargers
Charging
Infrastructure
In addition to the end in sales of new petrol
and diesel vehicles by 2030, the UK
Government have planned for all vehicles
to be fully zero emission at the tailpipe by
2035

28. Full installations
Purpose built at stations &
carparks
Charging infrastructure
Extension Lead
Home or office
Pop-up Chargers
drive ways, parking spots car
parks and village halls

30. What I did not
talk I about