Spotted on Flywheel: "Exploring the importance of the secondary market for vehicle subscription fleets with Kevin McLaughlin of Zygg"

There's a fascinating symbiotic relationship between micromobility subscription services and the secondary market. This week, I had the pleasure of exploring this further with Kevin McLaughlin, the founder and CEO of Canadian ebike subscription company Zygg.

After launching two succesful Canadian car share services, Kevin started Zygg in 2019 with a fleet of 45 Gazelle ebikes and 200 Ariv (GM's micromobility play) ebikes. Virtually all of their vehicles since the initial launch have been subscribed to for 2 years straight, with many of their customers being food delivery drivers. The fleet has since grown to 1100+ ebikes available for subscription.

Over the last year, Zygg started selling used ebikes from their subscription fleet, primarily due to a fleet refresh caused by 2+ years of usage of their existing vehicles as well as a need to get new types of vehicles that are better suited for the high utility needs of their most common users. However, Kevin noted that this initial exploration has uncovered two significant opportunities for vehicle subscription services like Zygg.

Read more about it on Flywheel.

It’s A Beautiful Day In The Neighbourhood - Utrecht’s Most Ambitious Car Free Community Is On The Horizon

Utrecht is no stranger to sustainable, livable-city schemes. It is the 4th largest city in The Netherlands and has an enlightened population including tens of thousands of students attending the country’s largest University. One third of Utrecht’s citizens cycle into town daily, 1/4 of all trips use “pedal power” and there is an abundance of awesome bike parking like “Bike Park”, which can store 12,500 bikes and ebikes!

Updated in January, 2023, Utrecht once again topped the Global Bike Cities Index as the “World’s Most Cycling-Friendly City”. The Index, compiled by digital insurance company Luko, analyzed 90 cities from across the globe. It ranks the most “cycling-friendly” cities in the world based on extensive data including: bike and ebike usage; crime & safety; infrastructure; bike sharing & rentals; and awareness-events. Details of the rankings and the methodology of how Luko got there may be studied here. Munster, Antwerp, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Malmo, Hangzhou, and Bern, rounded out the top eight. Unfortunately, not one North American city cracked the top twenty. Vancouver was the highest rated, in this particular survey, garnering 37th place.

The always informative “Cycling Professor” (@fietsprofessor) recently posted a video from The World Economic Forum previewing Utrecht’s inspirational eco-neighbourhood called “Merwede”.

Credit: BURA Urbanism

Set to be completed by 2024, Merwede (which means “wide water” or “canal” in Dutch) will house 12,000 residents encouraged to walk, cycle or take public transit. The project’s vision of 6,000 dwellings in 200 buildings - with green roofs & walls, solar panels, courtyards, and parks - is being developed on a 24 hectare business park of offices in the south-west of the city. 

There will be permits for only 1 vehicle per every 4 homes, every car must be shared and not allowed on the community’s streets. All necessities -  such as shopping, medical facilities and primary schools - will be within walking distance. Cycling routes will link the area to the city-centre and public transport will connect to all points in the Netherlands.

View more details of the impressive Master Plan from architects & designers BURA Urbanism.

We cannot wait to see this district come to life!

Good News Cycling: January 2023 Edition

Spreading the good news about small steps and big leaps that have been made in the past month in favour of cyclists.

After the success of Denver’s ebike subsidy program, two US cities and one state look to follow in Colorado’s capital’s footsteps. Atlanta, Nashville and California are eyeing up this program and looking to implement it in an effort to reduce the cities’ environmental impact

In the past years we have seen the kilometres of cycling lanes grow in certain cities. Barcelona, has steadily grown its network to the point where 90% of Barcelona’s inhabitants live within 300m of a cycling lane. In some cities such as Toronto, San Francisco and Paris, the growth of bike lanes during the pandemic have been sustained post pandemic.

New Orleans’ bike share, Blue Bikes, has been through some changes since its inception. In recent years it has gone through different ownership and is now a not for profit in the service of its community with the purpose of being more equal. As a not for profit, it is growing its fleet steadily and is adding 300 ebikes this year! Way to go New Orleans!

Thinking of changing your travel habits? There is growing proof that micromodes (e-bikes and e-scooters) and active modes (walking, bicycling and their variants) provide large climate emission reductions. Micah Toll, an e-bike enthusiast, shows that maybe an ebike can do the same or a better job than an SUV.

Now for a little Amsterdam envy. They have opened a new underwater parking garage for 7,000 bikes.

The Verge has asked 17 people for their predictions for 2023 in the transportation sector. Do you have any other predictions?