How to solve the "last mile" issue in traffic

[sebastian_wu]

hey,
I am currently working on an innovation research project on how to solve the so called "last mile" issue in traffic at the Vienna University of Business and Economics. The "last mile" issue is the fact that it's often difficult and inconvenient to get from the public transport station to your home or office without using a private car.

I'd really like to hear your opinion about the topic. What could be a good solution? Do you have your own innovative ideas or concepts concerning personal mobility devices? Do you know a person who is very active in that field and maybe has already developed some technical solutions or interesting concepts?

I'm looking forward to your replies.

Thanks and best wishes from Vienna!
Sebastian

 

[adrian_sm]

For me the issues with public transport are broader. They fall into three categories:

1) Time
- is another mode of transport quicker
2) Convenience/Comfort
- is it easy or hard to use
- do I have to think of schedules, fuss with tickets, worry about safety, stand in the cold
3) Cost
- is it worth the money, all things considered

The "last mile" issue does not address all these hurdles to user take-up.

Most cities are designed around other modes of transport, so you either need to change that system, or make it work for you.

Some concepts:
a) better coordination between modes of transport
- preference to public transport at intersections, to improve speed of service, and predictable scheduling
- synchronising transfer between modes of public transport.

b) Better integration with non-public modes of transport
- bike/scooter/car friendly storage at stations or transport of bikes etc on public transport
- reduce the hurdle to peoples attempts at personally addressing the "last mile" issue

c) Cleaner/Safer/Faster/More regular/Broader reaching public transport
- this is the build it and they will come theory, but always becomes a chicken and egg debate and politics will get in the way

d) High Density Living
- allows denser/more targetted public transport system, and ultimately makes the last mile shorter

e) City Planning
- if a city is designed with a public transport focus, rather than car focus you can greatly reduce the last mile issue
- this comes down to if you need retroactive, or forward thinking solutions

f) eCommerce
- eliminate the need for travel by creating virtual offices
- as internet speeds increase this becomes more possible for many jobs

g) Distributed Car Network
- tax dollars go to a huge number of automated & coordinated "cars/buses" seating 4,6,8,20 people
- each person tells the system where they want to go from and to, and when, and any special requirements like extra space for groceries/surfboard/bike
- automated car arrives to take you to your destination, or to a transfer station to make use of mass transit systems like trains etc.
- automatic car pooling organised by system

h) Cheap ebikes for the masses
- either ride to the station, or straight to work
- ebikes could be personally owned or bikeshare
- may need further support infrastructure like good public showers for offices that don't provide them
- reclaim car parks as bike parks, and install showers/storage

i) Free public transport
- fully funded public transport by tax dollars
- this will reduce ticketing overhead, attract more people,
- more people justifies better system, more services available, system gets better and better

j) Incentives
- "walk to work/leave the car at home" day
- public campaigns of health/social/environmental benefits of walking and using public transport
- lots of pictures of bright happy healthy people walking, and gray sad people stuck in traffic


I know a lot of those ideas don't match your brief, but maybe they will help you think of something outside the box

- Adrian

 

[Kingfish]

Forgive me for being down to earth…

Convenience:
There’s a bus stop at the bottom of my hill less than 2 minutes away. The problem is that I’d have to wait up to ½ hour for that bus to take me to a transit center where I’d have to wait & transfer to another bus going out to any significant destination.

Rather than wait, I walk 17-20 minutes (depending on how aggressive I am) to the next viable bus route which during commute times it runs every 10 minutes and there’s no need to transfer. Still it’s a pain in the rump cos I have to account for 30 minutes each way in addition to the time it takes the bus to get to/from the destination.

I avoid both by taking my eBike which is generally quciker and vastly more direct than public transportation, and in many cases rivals driving.

Weather:
In the Pacific Northwest, public transportation only works year-around in most conditions when it’s on the rails. Weather can be a significant factor, though this works to my benefit:

• If the wind is severe, I’m not walking anywhere, nor will I take the bike. However – I would take my truck without fear except for say those rare gale storms.
• If the snow falls, buses won’t run cos they can’t climb hills worth a damn. However – my eBike sports studded tires – and that’s when it gets fun for me! Same with the truck: It’s a 4x4 with studs and has got me through all sorts of weather, even to the airport when the busses aren’t available. Unfortunately – I no longer drive the truck since I’ve wedded myself to the eBike.

So the factors of the Last Mile where I live have mainly to do with convenience and practicality. Perhaps when Light Rail finally makes it to Redmond we can at least overcome the practicality aspect.

~KF

 

[AussieJester]

Pair of roller blades would be a cheap
Solution for the younger energetic crowd :lol:

KiM

 

[Lock]

In Denmark, last I heard the trains sell Strida folding bikes to transit pass holders at a deep discount, and permit the bikes on their trains for free:

Don't know how successful the program is...

Lock

 

[LI-ghtcycle]

I have to agree with KF, necessity and convenience are strange bed fellows indeed!

If I have no other option, I can always slug it out on foot or a bike of any kind, but reality is that bad weather and I have another option, I'm generally going to take it.

Even here in the Portland, OR area with it's amazing bicycle friendly infrastructure and decent bus service, few people truly become car free unless they sell the car.

Today was a perfect example, I am tired today, and spent the majority of the day finalizing the new design of chain tensioners for my bike, and instead of riding another bike, I wimped out and borrowed the family car.

In the case of your question about "the last mile" generally speaking, if it's an option, we humans are going to take the easiest path, kinda weird how some of us commute, my brother for example drives about 10 miles, parks his car, then takes the bus/train into town to work, and rides his bicycle the last bit (in nice weather) into work. I'm sure it helps out down-town to have less cars, but to take a car, buss AND a bicycle to get to work seems to be defeating the purpose of simplifying his commute!! :lol: :lol:

He doesn't live close to work, about 20 miles from work, and that is pretty typical in the Portland area, he can work from home sometimes, but not most.

He could always go by E-Bike for sure, 20 miles one way however is no small commute, and should be something you work your way up to, not a beginner's bike ride, even on an E-Bike.

I think if you are interested in small portable types of transportation, Golden Motor has this little "unicycle" vehicle, thing that might be interesting to you:

http://www.goldenmotor.com/

http://www.goldenmotor.com/magicpie/SolowheelPlay.html

Kind of a stretch to call it a "cycle" of any kind, more of a one wheeled segway, but much more convenient, compact and practical IMHO.

 

[John in CR]

The real solution is don't live so far from where you work. Spending significant chunks of your awake time commuting is the biggest waste of life on the planet, and if you get down to it, the cause of most problems. Get rid of "the last mile" and there is no problem to solve.

 

[amberwolf]

A bit OT, but in reply to that: for those that own their homes, and don't wish to keep moving around, in today's economy it can be difficult to keep working near where you live. I consider myself lucky to have kept the job and location I have now for four years, and the previous one for about 12. But even with the 12-year job, the actual job location moved twice: once about a mile closer to home, and the second time about 12 miles further away, before they shutdown entirely.

I dont' own my house, but I certainly am locked into it for a number of reasons, including my "project materials" and the dogs, as it would be hard to find another place similar to it for the price that's in a decent neighborhood that is also within a few miles of my workplace (2.5 in the current case).


More related to the thread, sort of:
Before that were several very short term jobs, one of which was a travelling job (inventory company) that went all over the valley (and occasionally all over Arizona, though I never went to those sites), with every single shift at a different place, some of them at places at opposite ends of the valley that couldn't be reached by public transportation *or* bicycle in the time between shifts, so commuting with other people with cars via the freeway system was the only way to reach some of them in time to keep the job.

 

[sebastian_wu]

hey guys,

thanks for your posts, so far. i see that you've understood the issue (convenience/practicality problem). my question now is, has anyone of you been actively trying to solve these issues. Does somebody of you have creative ideas concerning innovation/adaption/or improvement of personal mobility devices, you would like to discuss?
i am very interested in your answers,

thanks for your help,
seb.

 

[bobc]

That "strida" bike looks pretty good; if the OP wants to put a low power friction drive on that with (say) a couple of Ah of 6s Lipoly. he would get a very lightweight & convenient folding 2 or 3 mile solution.... looks as though it's intended to be walked like a pram when not ridden?

 

[miuan]

I don't have this "last mile" and I don't use public transport anymore.
Few people with e-bikes do anyway. It makes little sense once you can ride to work.
I still hope you can find someone here that can give you advice.

 

[Lock]

Does somebody of you have creative ideas concerning innovation/adaption/or improvement of personal mobility devices, you would like to discuss?

If you are on fb check out the Personal Electrics Project:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=27002365231

 

[sk8norcal]

Pair of roller blades would be a cheap
Solution for the younger energetic crowd :lol:

KiM

longboards have become the most popular last mile transpo on many college campus in the last ten years.

I used to use my board with soft wheels in college in the early 90's,
My campus is in downtown with limited street parking,
and parking garage parking cost $ and are a pain to get into during morning hours.

I would park on streets about 4 blocks away, and bike or skate into campus.
but its not fun to skate with heavy books on your back.
I wish I had a electric standup scooter back then...

I been riding my electric standup scooter this year, lots of fun to ride downtown.

 

[sk8norcal]

some nicer scooters I came across,
with lithium battery

http://www.mywayeurope.com/
http://www.rangebike.com/range-gtp-pro-electric-scooter/
http://www.trekker-israel.co.il
http://www.kooperscooter.com
http://www.moover.co.il/
http://www.goped.com/Products/ESR750HoverLI-Ion/Default.asp

 

[wineboyrider]

hey guys,

thanks for your posts, so far. i see that you've understood the issue (convenience/practicality problem). my question now is, has anyone of you been actively trying to solve these issues. Does somebody of you have creative ideas concerning innovation/adaption/or improvement of personal mobility devices, you would like to discuss?
i am very interested in your answers,

thanks for your help,
seb.

I live in a very rural area so public transportation is almost non-existent. But, when I visited my friend in Maryland one of the coolest things (ideas!) I saw were these free electric taxi cars running around all over the place. Of course, this was geared towards tourists and locals too. They run free, but only suggest a tip for the taxi driver. On the last day we rode the Electric taxi the owner was driving one of them and he told me they make their money on the advertisement billboards on the cars!
[youtube]Fs-dfeUCFNQ[/youtube]

 

[Joseph C.]

I live in a very rural area so public transportation is almost non-existent. But, when I visited my friend in Maryland one of the coolest things (ideas!) I saw were these free electric taxi cars running around all over the place. Of course, this was geared towards tourists and locals too. They run free, but only suggest a tip for the taxi driver. On the last day we rode the Electric taxi the owner was driving one of them and he told me they make their money on the advertisement billboards on the cars!
[youtube]Fs-dfeUCFNQ[/youtube]

That's a brilliant idea. For cities and towns with large enough densities its a winner. Plus, I'm sure that business owners would also like to sponsor innovative community-based projects like that.

 

[wineboyrider]

Thanks Joseph C . I think it's brilliant too. The owner has tons of people that want to drive the taxi's, because they make great tip money. The advertisement on the cars more than pays for the operation of the fleet. The guy was really cool and plus it's kind of nice when you go bar hopping to not get a dui!
The wait time on these things in Annapolis was around 10 minutes, because I think there are at least 10 or 15 of them going around all the time.

 

[amberwolf]

One problem with many "last mile" solutions like skates, skateboards, longboards, kickscooters, etc., is that they are often prohibited on sidewalks, and even if not prohibited on roads (sometimes are, sometimes not) then the roads are too dangerous to use them on. Some of the very large (1 square mile or more!) shopping malls in Phoenix and surrounding cities prohibit most of these things, including bicycles, from their property at all--parking lots, sidewalks, etc., because of irresponsible kids that abuse them as fun toys. Kind of odd, since some of the places have bike racks, but also signage prohibiting bicycles and such.

Some of these malls include the terminus of various public transit lines on them, like up here at Metrocenter, meaning you'd have to walk your last-mile solution off the property (often a quarter to half-mile or more!) before you could use it. Why bother even having it, at that point. If your destination *is* the mall, then it is very impractical, as you can only use your solution at the other end of your trip (assuming it's not also at such a place).

Most of the time they dont' seem to enforce the rules, and pretty much no one follows them anyway, but they could enforce them at any time, without any reason needed, making such solutions impractical, or forcing one to get off at an earlier stop that may be even farther away from your destination.

 

[wineboyrider]

One problem with many "last mile" solutions like skates, skateboards, longboards, kickscooters, etc., is that they are often prohibited on sidewalks, and even if not prohibited on roads (sometimes are, sometimes not) then the roads are too dangerous to use them on. Some of the very large (1 square mile or more!) shopping malls in Phoenix and surrounding cities prohibit most of these things, including bicycles, from their property at all--parking lots, sidewalks, etc., because of irresponsible kids that abuse them as fun toys. Kind of odd, since some of the places have bike racks, but also signage prohibiting bicycles and such.

Some of these malls include the terminus of various public transit lines on them, like up here at Metrocenter, meaning you'd have to walk your last-mile solution off the property (often a quarter to half-mile or more!) before you could use it. Why bother even having it, at that point. If your destination *is* the mall, then it is very impractical, as you can only use your solution at the other end of your trip (assuming it's not also at such a place).

Most of the time they dont' seem to enforce the rules, and pretty much no one follows them anyway, but they could enforce them at any time, without any reason needed, making such solutions impractical, or forcing one to get off at an earlier stop that may be even farther away from your destination.

AW it's kind of like why the Subway restaurant in my town has a no bicycles, skateboards, etc. etc. allowed sign , yet their advertisements show pictures of people jogging, bicycles, etc. etc. I go to our local subway all the time with my kids and our bicycles and park them right in front of their stupid signs. They are banned, because trial lawyers are having a field day on lawsuits from people who fall off their bikes, scooters, etc. AND I"LL BET THE SIGNS ARE THERE BECAUSE OF INSURANCE REASONS. If you look at the electric transport idea in MD that I show the owner specifically states that the cars are not for hire. Lawyers, laws, and lawsuits are the main reason why taxi cabs aren't more available and affordable.

 

[sk8norcal]

I was at my local gokart shop,
I saw ten Google Goped in for servicing.

looks like they use Chinese scooters also,

 

[Joseph C.]

Thanks Joseph C . I think it's brilliant too. The owner has tons of people that want to drive the taxi's, because they make great tip money. The advertisement on the cars more than pays for the operation of the fleet. The guy was really cool and plus it's kind of nice when you go bar hopping to not get a dui!
The wait time on these things in Annapolis was around 10 minutes, because I think there are at least 10 or 15 of them going around all the time.

Yes it is a great idea. Only there are a lot of problems to be overcome if this was to become successful everywhere.

There would have to be public investment in the fleet. I doubt advertisements alone could pay for them the upfront cost would be too great.

Now that's really not that much of an issue for progressive places. However, interest groups are a serious problem. I wonder how would the taxi and bus drivers react to competition that was free for passengers?

I would be very curious to know how much the advertisements bring in per vehicle, per week. It seems to be working for them though and that is the main thing.

 

[fechter]

My "last mile" was from the place where I park my car to work. Everything closer is 2 hour, metered, or street cleaning on a given day. I used a folding Zappy scooter that I put in the trunk of my car and scooted the rest of the way to work. This worked out OK until the scooter almost killed me with a shorted controller. Since then, I just walk. I've fixed the scooter, but I am not brave enough to ride it on San Francisco streets anymore. It's dark in the morning, and the streets are so full of pot holes it's hard to avoid hitting them. Cars are a danger too, and the hills are pretty steep and Zappy brakes suck. In some cities though, it might be a viable option. Something a bit smaller/lighter would be better for public transit though.

 

[BikeFanatic]

Similar to the Striada bike system in Denmark, NYC and Boston have bike rentals at the train and bus station
and at certain key parking places. you rent for the last mile , I believe the first 1/2 hour is free then you park at the next location. Like someone I work with takes a bike from the hospital to the train station 1.3 miles away, then leaves the bike there. It is called Hubway.

http://www.thehubway.com/home

 

[gestalt]

My friend who I run or community bike shop http://commonwheels.bostonbiker.org/ with actually works for hubway. They have their bike checkout stands everywhere in Boston and supposedly they have been twice as successful as was anticipated. Really great to see roving packs of people on subway bikes getting around.

As to the advertising you might be surprised. Pedicabs get anywhere from $800 to $1500 a month here and that pretty much pays for the shop space, $4mill insurance policy and maintenance. Leaving what they take from us as pure profit which is substantial.

 

[Joseph C.]

My friend who I run or community bike shop http://commonwheels.bostonbiker.org/ with actually works for hubway. They have their bike checkout stands everywhere in Boston and supposedly they have been twice as successful as was anticipated. Really great to see roving packs of people on subway bikes getting around.

As to the advertising you might be surprised. Pedicabs get anywhere from $800 to $1500 a month here and that pretty much pays for the shop space, $4mill insurance policy and maintenance. Leaving what they take from us as pure profit which is substantial.

They are some very impressive numbers.