Rethinking Urban Mobility: How Cities Can Ditch Double Taxation and Embrace Sustainable Scooters and E-bikes

In a time when micromobility offers an ever-growing network of fast, fun, and environmentally friendly ways to move around towns and cities, it's crucial to recognize the potential it holds. However, alarm bells should ring when successive local and state authorities appear to be shooting themselves in the foot by creating a maze of regulatory fees, taxes and barriers that hinder rather than encourage their adoption. By reviewing these structural fees, we can unlock micro-mobility's tremendous potential, enabling greater urban accessibility, reducing CO2 emissions, and making our cities more equitable and fairer for everyone. What the current system does is not just taxing micromobility twice over, it's also creating an unfair situation. First, every trip pays sales tax to the states, which scooter and e-bike riders then pay. Second, many cities also charge operating fees to micromobility companies, which are again passed on to the consumer through the price of fares. This creates more expensive, less convenient options for riders than driving cars that pay relatively lax gas taxes and no operating fees at all. This double taxation sets off a domino effect of problems. Discouragement of residents from choosing greener forms of transportation can hamper a city’s attempt to solve issues such as traffic congestion and pollution. It can also result in discrimination against low-income riders who rely on these forms of transportation. Most importantly, these fees can undermine cities' goals to foster sustainable transport modes. Cities should adopt a new philosophy of micro-mobility fees. Waiving operating fees for micromobility companies would translate directly into lower fares for the riders; cutting sales tax on trips would end the double taxation of micromobility; and tiered fees with lower costs for short trips or low-income riders would expand accessibility and promote greater adoption. Cities should also look at alternative sources of revenue beyond scooter and e-bike users, such as congestion pricing: setting fees on cars entering areas with high traffic to incentivize drivers to shift to micro-mobility users or reallocating some of the revenue to keep the infrastructure in good condition, or partnering with local businesses to provide scooter/e-bike users with discounts or free rides when they pay at the company. Such approaches would serve as additional income for businesses by attracting scooter/e-bikers at lower costs and providing more sanitary means of transport around the city. Long-term ridership can help multiply the benefits of micromobility, too. Providing subscription passes at discounted monthly or yearly rates to frequent riders can incentivize regular usage and boost ridership numbers. Cities can also partner with micro-mobility companies to offer reward programs on usage with incentives such as bringing down ride fees for riders who reach vital milestones (e.g., completing several trips per month). Lastly, fees should be determined based on data. Cities should use usage data about the frequency of use, distance traveled, and characteristics of the users to test how different fee schedules affect rider behavior. They can then pilot innovative fee structures in specific areas to test their impact on ridership and inform city-wide policies. In short, cities can continue to tax scooters and e-bikes ad nauseam, a form of double taxation that holds back the full potential and promise of these sustainable, last-mile transportation alternatives. Or cities can shift towards a more incentive-based system of municipal revenue, whereby citizens are motivated to ride rather than drive. Doing so will produce a greener urban ecosystem and a more progressive transportation system that benefits all.

Standing Guard: Protecting Our Elders in an Uncertain World

Every year, on 15 June, we commemorate World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). It’s another reminder of our older population’s unique vulnerabilities, especially this year, with its theme ‘Spotlight on Older Persons in Emergencies.’ Our parents and grandparents built the world we inhabit and should be revered and nurtured—but they are frequently exploited by scams, abused, and neglected. Why Be Vigilant? It can be a function of our physical or cognitive deterioration as we age, making us more vulnerable to exploitation, less able to detect it, and less likely to overcome it. Isolation, also a common condition of the elderly, can be a contributing factor. Here's what we can do: Stay in Touch: Conduct regular check-ins over the phone, in person, or via email. Listen to the person and pick up the phone if his or her mood or behavior has changed. Educate: Openly discuss scams and fraudulent behavior of all sorts. Ensure they are suspicious of strangers who make unsolicited phone calls, emails, or visits. Many helpful resources are available online and from local organizations, enabling them to stay independent for as long as possible through activities stimulating their minds and bodies. Know the Symptoms: Recognize the warning signs of abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation, such as money missing or unexplained, bruises on the skin, withdrawals from normal social activities, or incontinence. Resources and Support: Many organizations support seniors and their families. Here are some links to get you started: National Center on Elder Abuse https://ncea.acl.gov/home#gsc.tab=0 Eldercare Locator https://eldercare.acl.gov AARP Fraud Watch Network https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network Building a Safety Net Taking care of our parents—and, in many cases, other older relatives—should concern all of us. We need to be vigilant, keep on top of the issue, and seek out help whenever we feel it is necessary. This way, we can all help create a net that will make seniors as safe as they can possibly be. Remember, even small acts of vigilance can make a big difference. So, let us all stand guard over them, and let our elders live out their days in safety and dignity. #WEAAD #ProtectOurElders