Providing alternatives to public transport during the pandemic

According to BBC, more than €1bn has been invested in cycling-related infrastructure and 2,300km of new bike lanes have been rolled out in Europe alone since the pandemic began.

Due to the pandemic, people have started to use bikes again and 2020 can be counted as one of the peak times for cycling – partly because people are trying to find alternatives to public transport, partly because of the urge for physical exercise after being stuck in a restricted mode. The lockdown forced people to stay indoors for long periods all around the globe, so they began to value the possibility to move around and spend time in fresh air.

Booming market

Micromobility market will hit 9.8 billion in 2025, according to P&S Intelligence.

Bikeep’s CEO Kristjan Lind says he is happy that people take care of their health and stresses the need to make moving with bikes as comfortable as possible to encourage it as a comfortable way to commute in cities. It all translates to the lifestyle and infrastructure.

“When we started with Bikeep, there was little to none information on bike parking. Many cities didn’t have the infrastructure for cyclists, but we have seen a massive change in that during the last few years. We have a remarkable example of an innovative solution from New-Zealand, where Bikeep stations are used with outdoor billboards for advertisement, creating a smart business model, where the stations are for free to use and the financing comes from advertisement fees,” says Lind.

The need for secure bike parking solutions rises

While the bike sales’ numbers peak, similar trends will follow as with cars back in the 1920s. The infrastructure back then was created for horse carriages, now it accommodates cars and is needed to restructure for bikes. And to support the increasing trend, continued support from cities, business owners, and politicians, who switch from cars to bikes, scooters and e-bikes, is essential.

Lind explains: “The main problems commuters have are divided into three main groups: lack of parking spots, bike theft, and bad or unsafe commuting situations. Another emerging topic is how to charge e-bikes and scooters, which need to be thought through already in the planning phase. Since e-bike sales increase substantially year by year, new stations should have a charging possibility already in the initial project.”

Commercial property owners and managers turn to Bikeep for sustainable solutions

A decade ago, it was sufficient to provide housing, cafes and shopping streets for tenants but now with the emerging need for micromobility solutions, expectations are rising. “The commercial property branding, and value has shifted from location to comfort: the branding of your property and the comfort of the tenants and their customers,” Lind noted.

“Firstly, we all know the lock system is not the most convenient and the more expensive the bike, the less secure you feel leaving it attached to trees or in front of a shop or a restaurant. With modern solutions, the customer will only need the mobile phone or card they are carrying regardless of how they commute. And secondly, technology needs to cater to the needs of new ways of commuting. When e-bike owners need to charge their bike, they expect to do it at their workplace.

E-bikes, bike sharing, scooters, infrastructure providing the lanes, parking and housing of the vehicles requires a lot of collaboration between all parties involved. We are moving in a very exciting direction and the solutions are helping to create an even better experience for tenants and clients,” Lind added.

Bikeep enabling micromobility through innovation-oriented partnerships

Cities, property and business owners have given a deservant place to green and sustainable solutions. New-Zealand has rolled out a sustainable business model, where bike parking stations with charging serve the communities, is free to use for everyone and offers businesses an advertising opportunity. Bikeep has shipped out over 350 docks already and the people love them. The US city of Cupertino needed safe parking solutions and offers a free use for everyone, Ülemiste City in Tallinn excels in providing a green and innovative city inside a city so to speak. We need to give the city back to its people, to create an environment, where it is natural to spend time not to escape from it.

Although the pandemic affected all industries, some have a great way of recreating the way they operate. Due to the changed business environment, people need alternative transportation. Micromobility is on the rise, bringing new hope and readiness to 2021.

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