I think that’s a big part of the problem with electrified bikes, scooters and the like. As long as they are used as an alternative to more polluting and less sustainable modes of transport, that can be a win. But if they’re used as alternatives to walking or unmotorised modes of transport, they’re doing more harm than good. And I’m afraid that’s the case more often than not.
Disclaimer: My comment is just a superficial note on the topic and does not represent a qualified in-depth summary.
Yes, indeed. They would be most useful in rural areas, where public transport is not sufficiently present and could therefore replace cars.
But those are the areas, which are not as profitable as cities. There, decent public transport options often exist, which is why they often replace walking and thereby increase emissions.
But that also depends on particular individual factors like the electrification of those public transport modes.
![[meme] Sustainable modes of transit](https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/bd9a7980-756e-4ce8-b8f2-7c51d75ac763.webp){kind=link}
If they help to get people out of cars (including electric cars), I see them as a win. Orders of magnitude less impactful than cars.
I think that’s a big part of the problem with electrified bikes, scooters and the like. As long as they are used as an alternative to more polluting and less sustainable modes of transport, that can be a win. But if they’re used as alternatives to walking or unmotorised modes of transport, they’re doing more harm than good. And I’m afraid that’s the case more often than not.
Disclaimer: My comment is just a superficial note on the topic and does not represent a qualified in-depth summary.
Yes, indeed. They would be most useful in rural areas, where public transport is not sufficiently present and could therefore replace cars.
But those are the areas, which are not as profitable as cities. There, decent public transport options often exist, which is why they often replace walking and thereby increase emissions.
But that also depends on particular individual factors like the electrification of those public transport modes.
There is some reaearch on this, for example:
https://www.itf-oecd.org/are-e-scooters-good-or-bad-environment
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2020.102680
There’s evidence they are being used as an alternative to more polluting modes: https://theconversation.com/the-worlds-280-million-electric-bikes-and-mopeds-are-cutting-demand-for-oil-far-more-than-electric-cars-213870