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Shared transport

technology Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Shared mobility is a way for people to travel together. It is a system where travelers share a vehicle. Some people share a ride at the same time as a group. Others use a vehicle over time as a personal rental. This might mean sharing a car or a bicycle. People share the cost of the journey this way. It is a middle ground between owning a private car and using public transport.

Charging stations in SF City Hall 02 2009 02
Charging stations in SF City Hall 02 2009 02

This system works in many different ways. Carsharing lets people use a car only when they need it. In roundtrip carsharing, you must return the car to the same spot. One-way carsharing is different because you can leave the car in a new place. Bikesharing uses a fleet of bikes in a specific area. Some bikes stay at stations, which is called a docked system. Other bikes are dockless, meaning they can float freely.

Hangzhou bike sharing station
Hangzhou bike sharing station

Shared transport has been around for a long time. The very first carsharing program started in 1948 in Zurich, Switzerland. The first bikesharing program began in 1965 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. These early bikes were called "White Bikes." They were left unlocked for anyone to use. Today, new tools like smartphones make sharing much easier. Apps help people find and use vehicles quickly in many cities.

Charging stations in SF City Hall 02 2009 02
Charging stations in SF City Hall 02 2009 02

There are many interesting facts about these systems. By January 2017, North America had 39 carsharing groups. These groups served 1.9 million members with 24,629 vehicles. In the United States, 99 cities had tech-enabled bike systems by April 2016. These systems had about 32,200 bikes and 3,400 stations. In some places, people use auto rickshaws to move. These are motorized three-wheelers used in many developing countries.

Guayaquil mototaxi 06 2011 1898
Guayaquil mototaxi 06 2011 1898

Sharing travel can help the whole world. It can help people reach buses more easily. In small cities, it fills gaps in public transit. In large cities, it can help people save money on travel. Sharing also helps the environment by reducing driving. This can lead to lower greenhouse gas emissions. It is part of a big vision called CASE mobility. This includes electric and autonomous vehicles for the future.

Bird scooters on the sidewalk in San Jose
Bird scooters on the sidewalk in San Jose
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🖼️ Images & Media (4)
File:Charging stations in SF City Hall 02 2009 02.jpg
Charging stations in SF City Hall 02 2009 02.jpg
File:Guayaquil mototaxi 06 2011 1898.JPG
Guayaquil mototaxi 06 2011 1898.JPG
File:Hangzhou bike sharing station.jpg
Hangzhou bike sharing station.jpg
File:Bird scooters on the sidewalk in San Jose.jpg
Bird scooters on the sidewalk in San Jose.jpg
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