Question

An efficient and comprehensive transportation system is essential to supporting a well-functioning and prosperous community. In this context, analyze the need to promote shared mobility.

Answer 1

Approach:

• In the introduction, write about What is shared mobility and types of shared mobility.
• Write the importance of Shared mobility.
• Write various Challenges for shared mobility in India.
• Write Opportunities in shared mobility for India.
• Write Suggestions to help achieve a sustainable and equitable shared mobility future.
• Write an appropriate conclusion highlighting the importance of shared Mobility for sustainable economic growth.

India is at an inflection point in the development of its mobility system. As one of the most populous countries in the world, India has an opportunity to redefine personal mobility and set an example for other nations. India can develop a shared mobility system that creates benefits for all of its citizens by leveraging domestic strengths in data, connectivity, and entrepreneurship.

What is shared mobility?
Any mode of transportation that is shared by users on an as-needed basis, from bikes to 4-wheelers to mass transit can constitute shared mobility. Shared mobility includes the movement of both people and goods. Shared mobility leads to better fleet utilization—allowing more passengers and goods to travel in the same vehicle/vehicle kilometres travelled.

Types of shared mobility

• Mass transit: Mass transit includes high-capacity modes such as buses, metros, and trains that are typically operated by public agencies or the private sector for the public agencies. Mass transit has some of the highest throughput capacities
• Ridesourcing refers to on-demand services that link riders to for-hire drivers who are using their own vehicles as commercial vehicles. Examples include Lyft, Uber, and Ola.
• Ride-splitting: Many transportation network companies also offer shared options, such as UberPOOL and Ola Share. Since riders split fares, ride-splitting offers transportation at lower prices than ride-sourcing, albeit with some inconvenience due to longer travel times.
• Bike/cycle sharing, scooter sharing, carsharing
• Courier Network Services: Shared mobility services extend beyond moving passengers in vehicles— courier network services are for-hire freight delivery, in which consumers can hire freight services to move goods either intra-or inter-city. Some examples Uber Freight.

Benefits of shared mobility

• Efficient travel: With a focus on moving people, not vehicles, cities can promote high-capacity modes and increased asset utilization by reducing vehicle downtime and
• Filling space or seats in vehicles. Reducing the number of vehicles on the road has the potential to reduce congestion, which in turn can save time, fuel and money due to fewer vehicle travelled.
• Reduction in transportation cost: Shared mobility reduces the cost of transportation as users pay for transportation on demand when needed. The opportunity exists to monetize currently underutilized assets through such models as peer-to-peer carsharing.
• New jobs: The growing shared mobility ecosystem has the potential to create new jobs.
• Reduction in fuel consumption and tailpipe emissions: In a shared mobility paradigm with fewer vehicle kilometres traveled, a significant reduction in fuel consumption relative to business as usual can be achieved, with implications on fuel imports and national energy security. As fossil-based fuel consumption is reduced relative to business as usual in a shared mobility paradigm, tailpipe-based GHG emissions and other harmful pollutants such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide will also directly decrease.

Opportunities for shared mobility in India
India is uniquely positioned to leapfrog personal vehicle ownership and is expected to be a leader in shared mobility with shared miles expected to reach 35% of all the miles travelled by 2030 and 50% by 2040. This shift from ownership to usership is supported by a number of factors as discussed below.

• Low per capita vehicle ownership and a high share of public transit : Personal vehicle ownership in India is very low. Around 60% of the mobility demand in India is served by public transportation modes. The high mode share in favour of existing forms of shared transport can support the transition to shared mobility solutions.
• The Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill focuses on better utilization of transportation assets, increasing the accessibility and mobility of people, improving urban transport, and reducing traffic congestion at the state level.
• A young population and growing entrepreneurial culture: A young population may be more inclined to adopt new and innovative ideas. India’s emerging entrepreneurial culture further supports the development of innovative shared mobility solutions.
• Growing smartphone penetration and internet connectivity: High penetration of smartphones and better internet connectivity boosts the adoption of shared mobility solutions and services.
• Proper shared and cheap mobility solutions also help in redistribution of the city populace hence removing bottleneck issues like cluster settlement around Central business district

Challenges for shared mobility in India

• Infrastructure and services: Several Indian cities lack adequate mass transit infrastructure and services, which limits the adoption of these modes. Additionally, cities lack infrastructure for non-motorized transport, which may limit the adoption of bike/cycle sharing schemes.
• Policy and regulatory: Policy making in the field of shared mobility is still at a nascent stage. Proper care should be given to include all the amendments which might be needed in the future.
• Behavioral: Owning a private vehicle is aspirational and a symbol of status. Lack of awareness about the societal and environmental costs of private vehicle use could be a barrier to adoption of shared forms of mobility.
• Data: Inconsistencies exist in data standards and guidelines for best practices between public and private transportation providers, which can be a barrier for promoting shared mobility.

Suggestions to help achieve a sustainable and equitable shared mobility future

• Promote mass transit: As public transit operates on fixed routes and schedules, improving first- and last-mile connectivity will be paramount in maintaining, or improving India’s existing mode share of public transit. Improving public transit efficiency and convenience with route rationalization and better vehicles will also support public transit.
• Promote high share of non-motorized transport modes: Non-motorized transport modes, such as walking and cycling, not only promote health, but are also affordable, clean, and efficient. Cities should support these active modes by developing safe, non-motorized transport environments, promoting cycle sharing schemes and improving their connectivity to motorized forms of shared mobility.
• Build the infrastructure needed to support emerging shared mobility solutions.
• Facilitate the integration of different modes: Shared modes of transportation should complement each other to provide a comprehensive system where users can take multiple modes in an efficient manner, meeting their transportation expectations and needs.
• Enhance data availability and sharing: Data can be a key enabler in a shift to shared mobility and multimodal integration. A clear policy for collecting, standardizing, aggregating, and sharing transit data can increase the interoperability of data.
• Promote micro-entrepreneurship: Measures should be considered to promote individual entrepreneurs to enter the shared mobility market.
• Ensure wider geographic coverage to ensure that they are accessible and provide the much-needed first- and last-mile solutions.
• Develop a mobility digital infrastructure: This infrastructure could provide a platform to connect various forms of mobility to provide seamless multimodal transport across services. It could enable innovation and allow the development of new mobility service offerings.
• Consider fiscal and non-fiscal measures to support the adoption of shared mobility: Incentives may help shift users from private vehicle use. To encourage the use of shared modes, cities should test incentives that support the adoption of shared services and promote higher occupancy of vehicles.
• Initiatives to promote shared mobility must consider the safety of drivers, riders, and pedestrians. Regulations should be developed to ensure the safety of drivers and passengers as well as the quality vehicles.
• Measure state performance in transport reforms and incentivize them accordingly.

Conclusion
An efficient and comprehensive transportation system is essential to supporting a well-functioning and prosperous community. Transitioning to a shared mobility future will allow India to build a transportation system that is more efficient, cleaner, and meets the needs of its growing population. In order to achieve this goal, the private and public sector must work together to develop policies and business models that support shared mobility. The government can take the lead in catalyzing a shared mobility future through supportive policies.