Cars still dominate American streets, but the way we move is beginning to change. Across the country, people are choosing e-bikes and e-scooters to get to work, run errands, and connect with their communities. Our new report Shifting Gears: How Micromobility Can Move Us Beyond Cars explores what’s driving these choices, what’s holding people back, and what actions cities and providers can take to make it possible for more people to choose shared scooters and bikes over driving.
Why We Studied Mode Shift
Most trips in the US are under three miles — the perfect distance for shared bikes and scooters. Yet many of these short trips are still taken by car. This report set out to answer a central question: What will it take to make it possible for more people to use micromobility instead of cars?
To answer this question, we combined insights from Veo’s 2024 Rider Survey, five rider focus groups on mode shift, and a review of national research.
Before identifying strategies to shift more car trips, we examined what’s already working. Many riders are already using micromobility to live without a car or to drive less often: NABSA found that 35% of micromobility trips directly replace car trips in its latest state of the industry report. And 72% of riders reported driving less because of micromobiltiy in Veo’s latest rider survey.
Why People Ride
Across focus groups, surveys, and national research, three themes emerged:
Convenience factors: People are drawn to micromobility for the speed and convenience of travel, first/last-mile transit connections, easy parking compared to cars, and the joy of riding.
Necessity factors: 40% of Veo riders don’t own a car, and 28% don’t have a driver’s license. Lower costs compared to car ownership and the ability to fill gaps in transit service — especially late at night — make micromobility a critical transportation option for these nondrivers.
Enabling factors: Protected bike infrastructure, low-income and frequent-rider discounts, and nighttime safety features like lighting around parking hubs make it easier to use micromobility.
Barriers to Wider Use
Despite its benefits, riders still face challenges that limit micromobility’s full potential:
Infrastructure gaps: Without protected bike lanes, riders are left to choose between riding in unsafe traffic or crowded sidewalks.
Affordability challenges: Costs can be prohibitive — particularly for those unaware of discount programs or those paying for both micromobility and transit fares.
Limited vehicle options: Families, caregivers, people with disabilities, and riders carrying groceries or cargo often can’t rely on existing fleets.
Service restrictions: Geofencing, limited service areas, and uneven vehicle distribution can cut off natural routes and prevent inter-city trips.
Policy Solutions
The report highlights industry best practices and strategies to overcome these barriers, including:
Build safe, connected infrastructure that makes riding predictable and comfortable.
Update geofences to support longer-distance travel.
Strengthen affordability and awareness of discount programs so riders can use micromobility as an everyday option.
Deploy diverse fleets such as seated scooters, trikes, cargo vehicles, standing scooters, multi-passenger, and adaptive vehicles to meet the needs of all riders.
The Opportunity Ahead
Car-free and car-lite riders are already proving what’s possible: micromobility can support sustainable, affordable lifestyles. It fills gaps that cars and transit alone can’t meet — especially for nondrivers. With the right mix of infrastructure, pricing, vehicle diversity, and local policies, cities and operators can build on this success so people have the freedom to choose micromobility for short trips around town.
The question is no longer whether micromobility can replace car trips, but how quickly we can scale. Every car trip shifted to micromobility means fewer emissions, greater affordability, and better-connected communities.