What are the Challenges for Shared Mobility in India?

Mobility in India is expected to grow with increasing GDP and rapid urbanization. There are several challenges and barriers that need to be overcome. This article briefly explains the challenges of shared mobility, meaning, different types and benefits of shared mobility.

Aspirants would find this topic very helpful in the IAS Exam.

Shared mobility –  Challenges

The challenges faced by Shared Mobility can be grouped into 4 main categories which are listed below.

1. Infrastructure and Services – India is lacking in infrastructure in mass transit infrastructure, vehicle pick-up, vehicle drop-off, non-motorized transport which limits the adoption of bike or cycle sharing.
2. Policy and Regulations – The Motor Vehicles Act of 1988 is the regulation that governs road transport ecosystem, it needs to evolve to promote new and shared mobility solutions.
3. Behavioural – Owning a vehicle is a status symbol, lack of awareness of societal and environmental costs of private vehicles is a barrier to the adoption of shared mobility.
4. Data inconsistencies could be another barrier.

Give an Example of one of the Best Shared Mobility Deployment?

Helsinki in Finland is one of the best examples of shared mobility. Helsinki has set an ambitious target of making private vehicles completely obsolete by 2025. In this shared mobility system, all the shared and public transport are integrated into a single network with easy payments using digital platforms. It provides a better first and last-mile connectivity. As per a study conducted by International Transport Forum, the shared mobility in Helsinki would reduce Carbon Dioxide emissions by 34%, reduce congestion by 37%, increase rail/metro ridership between 15% and 23%.

What is Shared Mobility?

Share mobility means any mode of transportation that is shared by users on an as-needed basis. The platforms for shared mobility could be two-wheeler, 4 wheeler, mass transit. Different Types of Shared Mobility are given below.

1. Mass Transit – Bus, rail, metro.
2. Ride sharing – In this form of transportation owners use their own vehicles for commercial purpose, the platform will link riders with drivers travelling in the same direction and facilitate direct payment.
3. Ride splitting – Uber pool and Ola share are examples of ride splitting.
4. Bike or cycle sharing
5. Scooter or bike-sharing
6. Carsharing – Renting vehicles on a rental basis.
7. Microtransit – Private companies operating shared vans.

What are the Benefits of Shared Mobility?

Some of the benefits of shared mobility are given below.

1. Efficient travel
2. Reduction in transportation costs
3. Generates new jobs
4. Reduced fuel consumption 
5. Reduced emissions of greenhouse gases.

The above details would help candidates prepare for UPSC 2021

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