This article is the first in a series examining Canada’s transportation sector and the promising solutions available for decarbonization.
In 2021, the transportation sector was Canada’s second-largest source of GHG emissions, accounting for 150 Mt of CO2 equivalent (CO2e), or 22 per cent of national emissions.
Decarbonizing transportation is a central component of Canada’s emissions reduction plan. Our interim emissions target for 2030 was 20 per cent below 2005 levels (747 MT CO2e) by 2026. Late in 2023, the federal government announced that we surpassed that figure, with national emissions totalling 548 Mt CO2e.
Despite the progress we’ve made, transportation-related emissions are still rising, offsetting gains from other sectors. According to the Canadian Climate Institute, while 2021 emissions were 8.4 per cent below 2005 levels, the transportation sector saw an increase of 4.9 per cent, or 7 million tonnes of CO2e from 2020 to 2021.
Currently, Canada’s national focus revolves heavily around the mass adoption of electric vehicles, with plans to completely phase-out the sale of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles by 2035, and numerous incentives promoting the purchase and use of EVs.
While EVs are undoubtedly a significant part of decarbonizing the transportation sector, there are several barriers that still hinder adoption. For example, many models are still cost-prohibitive for most people, and Canada’s charging network and electrical grid still need to be enhanced to accommodate mass adoption.
This underscores the importance of alternative transportation modes, like micromobility, in achieving emissions reduction targets.
What is Micromobility?
Micromobility, which can include e-scooters, bicycles, e-bikes and cargo bikes, is a form of transportation designed for individual use over short distances by using small, light-weight vehicles.
These modes of transportation can be powerful tools to drive down emissions as they offer flexible alternatives to vehicular transport, have lower upfront and operating costs, and encourage healthy lifestyles.
This unique form of transportation can help reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, increase accessibility for urban populations unable to afford vehicle ownership, and encourage the use of urban space previously reserved for car infrastructure to be dedicated to other uses, such as parks, public gardens, or recreational and commercial spaces. Beyond those benefits, micromobility also promotes active, healthy lifestyles, and reduces wear and tear on urban infrastructure.
When used as part of urban multimodal transportation, such as combining cycling with public transportation services, micromobility’s role in sectoral decarbonization is magnified. The key to unlocking this potential lies in widespread consumer adoption and collaboration within municipal transportation ecosystems.
Despite the sizeable potential impact of micromobility in Canada’s largest cities, there are still significant challenges preventing widespread adoption.
Embracing Micromobility
While some people may be compelled to adopt micromobility technology primarily due to the prospect of lowering their personal carbon footprint, there are other factors that are major drivers of behavioural change to consider. Time savings, cost considerations, and personal enjoyment are all prominent drivers of change across large populations.
Cities in North America are currently designed primarily around the use of cars, with large portions of the population situated in suburban neighbourhoods that are positioned far away from most essential services. This kind of urban design has led to a car-dependent society that is energy-inefficient and very expensive to connect via public transportation.
For micromobility to truly take off in Canada's major cities, significant infrastructure changes and upgrades are needed.
Urban Densification
Perhaps the most effective way to encourage the use of micromobility is through urban densification, and the implementation of the 15-minute-city model.
The concept of the 15-Minute City was developed in 2016 by Carlos Moreno, a Franco-Colombian scientist. The idea describes urban environments where daily necessities are accessible within a 15-minute walk or bike ride, aiming to create more sustainable, inclusive, and people-centered cities.
The approach has been embraced in varying degrees around the world, in cities like Paris, Barcelona, Portland, Melbourne, and Ottawa. Its focus on proximity, sustainability, and reducing reliance on cars directly aligns with global efforts to mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and has seen some interesting results so far.
Urban centers around the world house roughly 55 per cent of the total population, and contribute more than 60 per cent of our global GHG emissions. In the coming decades, those figures are expected to grow.
Globally, 14 per cent of annual emissions are attributable to the transportation sector, of which 72 per cent is linked to road vehicles. Reducing our reliance on cars by increasing urban density, promoting micromobility, and implementing the associated urban infrastructure to make it a primary mode of transportation has the potential to have an enormous impact on our national, and global emissions.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, changes in urban density, compact land use, and the provision of less car-dependent transport infrastructure, can reduce transport-related GHG emissions by more than 25 per cent.
Dedicated Bike Lanes and Paths
Safe, accessible routes for micromobility devices are crucial for mass adoption. Expanding and improving bike lanes, particularly protected bike lanes, which create physical barriers between cyclists and motorists, are effective in the promotion of cycling.
From a life cycle perspective, manufacturing a bicycle also takes approximately 5 per cent of the energy and materials required to manufacture a car, and reduces approximately 300 grams of CO2 for every 1.5 kilometres cycled.
Research from the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) indicated that the implementation of protected bicycle lanes increased ridership on those streets by 21 - 171 per cent.
There are many people who are willing to test road cycling for the first time, but are concerned about their safety when riding on streets without bike-friendly infrastructure. NACTO’s national survey found that 60 per cent of the total population are “interested but concerned” about biking, Of those respondents, 80 per cent indicated that they would be willing to ride on streets with separated or protected bike lanes.
While Canada as a whole has comparatively highly rated cycling infrastructure, 31 per cent of Canadians say they would ride their bikes more if their local cycling infrastructure had more dedicated pathways, and an additional 40 per cent say they would be encouraged to cycle more if there were physical barriers between cycle lanes and roadways.
Constructing dedicated cycling infrastructure will increase adoption by improving the safety and enjoyment of bike-commuters.
Parking and Charging Stations
In addition to improved commuting infrastructure, adequate parking and charging stations are needed to support increased use of micromobility.
Having a well-distributed and robust network of charging infrastructure for electric bicycles and scooters can help ensure these devices can be continuously charged, reducing downtime and improving service reliability for users. This helps meet demand during peak times and ensures availability of charged vehicles.
A 2021 McKinsey survey found that nearly 70 per cent of respondents in various countries were open to using micromobility solutions like bicycles, e-bikes, or e-scooters for commuting, andt hat robust charging infrastructure could further drive demand by alleviating concerns over battery life and range.
If done strategically, the development of charging infrastructure for electric micromobility devices enhances urban mobility, supports environmental goals, and contributes to the economic vitality of communities.
For cities and businesses, investing in charging and parking infrastructure can stimulate local economies by promoting tourism, increasing foot traffic to retail areas, and creating new jobs related to the maintenance and operation of the charging network and the micromobility devices.
Some studies have shown that businesses can see a boost in the number of patrons, and an associated increase in spending by more than 5 per cent in areas with robust micromobility infrastructure.
The development of charging infrastructure for electric micromobility devices is crucial for promoting their use, and a good strategy for creating vibrant, sustainable communities.
Public Transportation Integration
A longstanding issue facing public transportation planners is the first mile/last mile problem, which refers to the challenge commuters face when the distance between their starting point or final destination and the nearest transit stop is too far to comfortably walk.
The integration of micromobility solutions can encourage the use of public transportation services by enhancing accessibility. Studies on the integration of micromobility and public transit systems have noted that there is an appetite among the public for multimodal systems, and have found support for bundled tickets that combine the fares of both services—even if the price is more per ticket.
Micromobility’s flexible and efficient means of covering the first and last segments of a journey connects commuters with main transit services more seamlessly. Transit integration offers an alternative to walking long distances or using personal vehicles for short trips to transit hubs.
Micromobility can increase the catchment area of public transit stations, leading to higher ridership levels, driving down car-based transportation, and its associated emissions. Moreover, the integration helps to optimize the use of urban space and resources, improving system efficiency and sustainability, and improving the overall quality of life for urban residents by increasing accessibility for underserved communities, improving air quality, and reducing congestion.
Parking and Charging Stations
In addition to improved commuting infrastructure, adequate parking and charging stations are needed to support increased use of micromobility.
Having a well-distributed and robust network of charging infrastructure for electric bicycles and scooters can help ensure these devices can be continuously charged, reducing downtime and improving service reliability for users. This helps meet demand during peak times and ensures availability of charged vehicles.
A 2021 McKinsey survey found that nearly 70 per cent of respondents in various countries were open to using micromobility solutions like bicycles, e-bikes, or e-scooters for commuting, andt hat robust charging infrastructure could further drive demand by alleviating concerns over battery life and range.
If done strategically, the development of charging infrastructure for electric micromobility devices enhances urban mobility, supports environmental goals, and contributes to the economic vitality of communities.
For cities and businesses, investing in charging and parking infrastructure can stimulate local economies by promoting tourism, increasing foot traffic to retail areas, and creating new jobs related to the maintenance and operation of the charging network and the micromobility devices.
Some studies have shown that businesses can see a boost in the number of patrons, and an associated increase in spending by more than 5 per cent in areas with robust micromobility infrastructure.
The development of charging infrastructure for electric micromobility devices is crucial for promoting their use, and a good strategy for creating vibrant, sustainable communities.
