By Naroa Coretti

Imagine the day you order an electric bike or scooter through an app, and within a couple of minutes, the bike or scooter automatically comes to you. Would this convenience make it more attractive and therefore more likely for you to rent or pay for such a service? Will autonomy make the micro-mobility systems even more efficient and attractive?

Researchers at the MIT City Science group explore this by using an agent-based simulation tool to analyze the fleet behavior of shared autonomous micro-mobility systems. In a case study, the authors assess the potential impacts and benefits of autonomous shared bicycles.

​As our cities face growing challenges such as urban population growth, inequality, and climate change, so will the need for innovative solutions. In such respect, mobility is one of the fields that require a change to thus mitigate such challenges. By redesigning urban mobility systems, we can therefore move towards a future in which cities are more livable, equitable, sustainable, and resilient.