Micromobility from the perspective of the development of bicycles, scooters and microcars. A retrospective view

Abstract

Micromobility does not have a clear definition. Sometimes it is formulated for specific conditions and its scope relates to the needs of researchers or interested institutions. Micromobility in transport has been present for a long time, although in the era of intensive automotive development in the world it was marginalized in favour of the ubiquitous car cult. The manifestations of micromobility include slow transport devices, such as bicycles, scooters and microcars. The beginnings of such devices date back less than 200 years. Initially, they were powered by the user’s muscles, and then, after the invention and improvement of drive units, they were also powered mechanically and electrically. Successive structures have been created, improved and modernized. The article aims to review the emergence and development of the three, in the author’s opinion, most important means of transport for micromobility, namely: bicycles, scooters and microcars, and thus to justify the thesis that micromobility should be perceived not only through the prism of the service, but also from the perspective of its evolution as a means of transport.