The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic have been felt tremendously around the world. As we emerge from this difficult period we have the opportunity to deliver a sustainable and resilient recovery, with a chance to Build Back Better.
Micro-mobility can support cities to achieve a green recovery by reducing our dependence on cars. This fundamental aim is central to our mission at TIER and drives the innovative solutions and designs of our micro-mobility fleet, that includes e‑bikes, e‑scooters and e‑mopeds, to ensure we can support cities and businesses with their own sustainable ambitions. To cite a few examples, TIER was the first e‑scooter operator to become climate neutral; we use swappable batteries, which dramatically reduces the carbon footprint of our operations; and offer private e‑scooter owners the chance to trade in their vehicles to be recycled or repurposed, in exchange for ride credit with the company. Our TIER for Business platform provides the opportunity for organisations to offer a greener, more sustainable mode of transport to their employees through discounted rides with TIER.
The Department for Transport’s e‑scooter trials that began last summer provide a real opportunity to create meaningful change. In London alone, a TIER study found that for journeys of a mile or less, e‑scooters could reduce daily car trips taken by over 1.2 million, reducing daily CO2 emissions by up to 233 tonnes – the equivalent of 240 return flights from London to New York.
However, mode shift away from private cars and towards micro-mobility won’t be immediate, particularly given the wariness that many people have when it comes to e‑vehicles in the capital. That’s why through our UK Safety Board, we are continuously scrutinising our approach to safety to ensure we always provide the highest of safety standards and advocate for new, industry-wide safety measures to mitigate any potential risks. It is through this approach that we have been able to adapt our operations to meet the diverse needs of our communities , including being the first operator to commit to adding a sound alert to our vehicles to ensure that the people who are blind and partially sighted can be alerted of an e‑scooter’s approach. Importantly this work must be undertaken in close consultation with the communities it aims to benefit. Indeed, we are proud that our work with the sight loss community has now been nominated for an award.
It is fantastic that the UK has followed Europe with the launch of e‑scooter trials and we are privileged to be a part of this transformation in London. Micro-mobility has the ability to unlock the path towards a green and sustainable future, and as we emerge out of this crisis – I couldn’t think of a better time to embrace it.