Smart Cities and Electric Scooters: Revolutionizing Urban Transportation
Using Electric Scooters in Smart Cities
When we think of “smart” concepts - things run using modern technology - we generally think on a small, personal scale, like phones or watches. But what if we could make entire cities smart? As our technological capabilities expand, this is becoming less of a concept and more of a reality every day. And as our cities evolve, so will our transportation needs. This includes popular choices like electric scooters or electric unicycles.
Here’s what you need to know about smart cities and urban transportation in the future.
What is a smart city?
Cities, as we know them now, have existed for more than 6,000 years, stretching back to the early days of human civilization. Over this time, of course, much has changed, but the basic concept is the same: a city is a multi-system structure that supports the daily lives of a large group of people in a shared space.
While there are some systems that have always needed to exist for cities to function - such as transportation, public health and safety, domestic infrastructure, and economic infrastructure - modern cities have additional systems such as communication and internet access that have had to be implemented over the top of existing structures. This can make their actual effectiveness limited; after all, they’re working with an outdated framework.
Enter the idea of smart cities: cities whose major functions are digitally interconnected through sensory and analytical technology. In a smart city, everything from public works projects to daily traffic to health and safety concerns could be monitored by every citizen using apps and other digital access points that rely on information collected by a huge fleet of sensors deployed throughout the space and monitored via central analytical processing hubs.
How transportation in smart cities might work
As with other systems, in smart cities, transportation systems would be largely automated for the sake of efficiency and convenience. This might mean incorporating traffic control systems such as timed and sensor stoplights and crosswalks, having an app that reports live traffic including delays and closures, and having monitors that automatically detect and report violations like speeding and reckless driving.
Additionally, mass public transport would be a vital part of the city’s infrastructure. This could include above- and below-ground trains as well as buses, all of which would be run on automated systems and regularly maintained to keep them moving safely and on schedule.
That being said, efficiency is not the only factor that smart city transportation systems would take into account; environmental friendliness would also be an important concern. In a smart city, the goal is to improve upon the existing systems we have, so that might mean making roads friendlier not only for larger vehicles like electric cars but also for smaller personal vehicles like bikes, electric scooters, electric unicycles, skateboards, etc. Smart cities may have designated lanes for personal vehicles on major roads and wider sidewalks, as well as a more walking-friendly layout.
How electric scooters play into urban transportation
As mentioned, personal vehicles would have a much more important place in a smart city than in current city structures. An electric scooter would adapt particularly well to this environment for a few reasons.
To begin with, an electric scooter is a compact vehicle that can easily be maneuvered in high-traffic areas like city streets. It can also be easily stored when not in use, such as on public transport or inside of a building rather than having to be parked on the street like a bike would be. This portability would decrease the risk of theft and damage, which might make it an appealing option for city commuters.
Additionally, electric scooters would not require additional infrastructure; as long as you have a charger with you, you do not need a specialized charging station to maintain your electric scooter’s battery. That being said, it would be possible to install charging stands or even lockers in the same way that we install bike racks in front of buildings, making charging and storage even more convenient with minimal hassle.
Finally, electric scooters are an excellent environmentally-friendly alternative to larger vehicles like cars and motorcycles. They do not use fossil fuels, their electrical impact is minimal, leaving them with a light carbon footprint, and they are durably made to last many years before needing a replacement, which reduces waste.
Conclusion
Smart cities are becoming more of a reality every day. And as our needs evolve, so does our technology; personal electric vehicles are evolving to meet our sustainability and practical needs in these increasingly tech-savvy metropolises.
Interested in your electric scooter options? Alien Rides wants to show you the future with our industry-leading machines from a range of major brands. Shop for a model that meets your performance needs and see how you might join the smart city movement.
Check out our selection of electric scooters and unicycles to find the machine that best fits your lifestyle and needs.
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