Micromobility – the use of bicycles, e-scooters, e-bikes and cargo bikes – is helping to revolutionise the movement of people and freight in cities. In particular, the spotlight has come down on these modes during the pandemic as they suggest a non-car way to travel whilst maintaining distance from others. Many sing about their potential benefits; the ability to reduce private car trips, enhance accessibility, even their contribution to reducing carbon emissions. But perhaps the industry has developed too quickly and gone a step too far? Should our efforts be focused elsewhere?
We’re hosting a conversation between 4 guest speakers who will be offering to shed some light on this question. We will also be exploring whether or not micromobility can lead by example with regards to gender equity. With backgrounds in academia, operations and urban planning, we’ll be sure to hear about the most recent insights, be them revolutionary or distracting for the development of urban mobility in the UK.
The panel of speakers will include:
Grace Packard, Principal Consultant, Momentum Transport Consultancy
Grace Packard is a Principal Consultant at Momentum Transport Consultancy with a keen interest in active travel, transport technologies and of course, micromobility. Over the last year, Grace has completed a number of studies surrounding e-scooters and has more recently investigated how cities can welcome greater use of cargo-bikes. In September 2020, she completed a MSc degree at UCL which concluded with a Distinction-awarded research piece entitled ‘The changing use of e-scooters in London: Stakeholder perspectives and future scenario pathways’. Part of the London Micromobility Alliance and a member of the Westminster Property Association NexGen Committee, Grace champions stakeholder discussions which acknowledge both opportunities and constraints, allowing pragmatic solutions to be found in order to promote sustainable mobility in dense urban centres.
Lorna Stevenson, PhD student, University of Westminster
Lorna Stevenson has recently moved into the transport sector, following a previous career in education policy. She is completing a PhD at the Active Travel Academy at the University of Westminster, researching the UK e-scooter trials. Her particular interest is transport policy, including the links between research, evaluation and policy-making. She is interested in how policy for micromobility can support the transition to a sustainable mobility system and the governance of micromobility, particularly when delivered by partnerships between the public and private sectors. With colleagues at Westminster she is also interested in tensions and synergies between innovative transport options and traditional active travel.
Nathan Ashley, Senior Public Policy Manager UK, Voi Technology
Nathan Ashley is the Senior Public Policy Manager for Voi Technology in the UK, Europe’s fastest-growing micro-mobility provider. Before joining Voi, Nathan worked in the Mayor's Office briefing the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, in preparation for Mayor's Question Time, People's Question Time and any other mayoral scrutiny meetings. Nathan has also worked for Transport for London (TfL) on a number of policy areas where he helped to inform, develop and contribute to the Mayor’s Transport Strategy, the Environment Strategy, the creation of the expanded Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and TfL's first ever 'policy hackathon'.
Throughout his career, Nathan has always tried to bring about positive change for underrepresented groups. At TfL, Nathan was a member of the Women’s Staff Network Group committee - one of the largest in the UK. He co-founded the Male Allies initiative, which brought over 500 men into the conversation of gender equality, and at City Hall, he was the Policy Lead for the first-ever Black, Asian and minority ethnic staff network group.
Rachel Drapper, Fulbright Scholar & MBA Student, Harvard Business School
Rachel Drapper is a former Manager at Strategy&, part of the PwC network, Commercial Project Manager at TIER Mobility, and intern within Transport for London’s Innovation Directorate. She is currently a Fulbright Scholar and second year MBA student at Harvard Business School. Rachel has a breadth of experience across the transport sector from strategy consulting throughout the automotive value chain in Europe, the US, and the Middle East. She is captivated by mobility – micromobility in particular – and is convinced that the increasing challenge of moving people and things in urban areas in a safe, efficient and equitable way is a worthwhile problem to solve. Furthermore, with only 22% of transport workers being women, there remains much progress to be made in terms of diverse representation and provision for women in the sector. Rachel is passionate about gender equity and inclusion and she spends most of her time outside of work – or, when the stars align, in work too – reading, thinking about, and advocating for this cause.
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