The movie “Back to the Future” depicts people as riding around in flying cars or on hoverboards by now. While we may not have those yet, the past decade has seen new forms of transportation emerge. One of the biggest is the rise of shared mobility.
It all started in 2010 with ridesharing apps. Now, over 98 million people worldwide use apps like Uber and Lyft to get around. E-bikes and dockless scooters have also entered the race, popping up in cities across the United States. But how will these new forms of transportation affect the future?
In this episode of ASCE Interchange, recorded before social distancing guidelines, Kristin Musulin, senior editor at Smart Cities Dive, discusses how the rise of shared mobility is reshaping cities, and the challenges civil engineers face in keeping up with this growing trend.
“So many companies are coming to cities at once, that there haven’t been infrastructure improvements and updates needed to make sure that these cyclists and scooter riders are getting around safely,” she said.
Musulin also talks about socially responsible solutions to these safety concerns.
To view all Interchange episodes, visit ASCE’s YouTube channel.
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