Micromobility Stumbles, Delivery Rumbles

2023 briefly reviewed

Hard to believe it’s almost been another trip around the sun, eh? Although I suppose this big blue ball hurtling through space might be the most public of transportation, after all…

Instead of doing a big think piece on everything that happened in 2023, I thought I’d start by thanking all of you for your continued support, helpful feedback and for putting up with all the puns. And of course for those of you making news or sharing news, thanks for helping collectively push the curb forward just a little bit.

In terms of cities and transit, it really seems like 2023’s been a time of bifurcation. Downtowns and ridership have come back from the brink in many cities, while others (sorry SF, Chicago) still seem to be hurting. So too with so many of the policies that were enacted post-pandemic; outdoor dining is a permanent part of the landscape in places like LA, while others like NYC have somewhat crimped it, and still other cities like Dallas have basically scraped it off their streets and sidewalks completely. While we saw the feds throw a boatload of cash at things like EVs and public transit, it would have been nice to see more policy trickle down to keep our streets activated and vibrant.

For the private sector, it’s also been a mixed bag. In just the past week or so we’ve seen Bird file for bankruptcy (let’s be honest, the writing was on the wall once they moved the HQ to Miami,) Micromobility.com (née Helbiz) get delisted from the Nasdaq, and Superpedestrian shut down its U.S. operations. And yet over at Lime, not only is the company claiming profitability, it’s expanding its fleet.

Things are looking more universally positive for the delivery space. Despite some headwinds regarding pay laws, we saw Instacart pull off a successful IPO, while restaurant deliverers in both the U.S. and overseas are seeing record revenue, with many finally running in the black. And while they’re not necessarily a fixture in every suburb, delivery robots are now commonplace at universities from coast-to-coast. Check out our year in review at Modern Delivery for a bigger recap on the 3PD space.

Last but not least, many of you folks reading this have been to our annual Curbivore conference, but still haven’t secured a ticket for March 28-29, 2024. Anyone that’s been knows not only do we bring together some of the most interesting minds, but we do so in a unique environment that leaves folks way more open to collaborating than yet another event at some airport Marriott convention center…

Tickets are still $175 through the new year; be a mensch and snag one today.

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HOT INDUSTRY NEWS & GOSSIP

MUTCD ado about nothing: The FHA has released its much-anticipated update to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, and while it offers improvements, it’s still apt to leave us with unsafe streets. For starters, it downplays, but sadly doesn’t *eliminate* the 85th percentile rule for determining speed limits, an outdated concept that bases the number on how fast people *want* to drive when there’s no congestion. There’s better news for complete street fans, as the text offers expanded guidance on bike signs and markings and eases the process to install transport and pedestrian infrastructure.

Literal milestones: Our self-driving friends have much to self-celebrate, with Waymo successfully logging 7.1 million driverless miles, and a safety record that outclasses human motorists. Not to be outdone, Nuro just hit one million miles of its own. And May Mobility, which is focused on autonomous shuttles, just launched in Sun City, AZ.

EU says delivery gig workers are employees: The European Union is close to formalizing a new rule that would reclassify 5.5 million gig workers, including most in most in the food / grocery delivery space, into employees. It’s expected to raise pay and other expenses by €4.5 billion ($4.9 billion) euros per year.

High desert, light vehicle: Check out this retro-tastic light (and presumably electric) vehicle spotted in Joshua Tree, CA. If microcars (and bike lanes — see the green stripe in the bg) can work where highs hit 115°, they can work anywhere…

Dead reef: After a few years of throwing countless random mobility, ghost kitchen and parking idea at the wall and hurting plenty of folks with the collateral damage, REEF is spinning out its core parking operations. It’s now called “Reimagined Parking” and is backed by fresh cash from the UAE. The company seems to have also decamped from its old Miami HQ.

Vision Zero, near a billion: The Feds have doled out a fresh $890 million in Safe Streets and Roads for All grants, sprinkling money on 620 projects across the country. Bigger winners include a redesign of Queens Blvd in NYC, a safety overhaul on Warren Ave near Detroit and the complete streetification of a major thoroughfare in Reno.

An even grander Paris: Grand Paris Express, the humongous expansion of the French capital’s metro network, continues apace. The gov’t just doled out 2.54 billion euros(~$2.796B) for a design build contract for 17 km (~10.6 miles) of Line 15 East. As a point of comparison, NYC is spending $7.7B for the 1.76 mile extension of the Second Avenue subway. Merry Christmas to whoever’s got the prime contract there… ;)

A few good links: 2023’s most unexpected developments across delivery robotics and restaurant automation. Hydrogen trucking fraudster Trevor Milton sentenced to four years in prison. The problem with microtransit. Why we can’t make cheap houses. Mercedes says turquoise running lights will signal autonomous operations. Delivery Hero cuts staff, closes hubs.

This newsletter will be taking a few weeks off for the holidays; see you in January!

P.S. Got your Curbivore ticket yet?

- Jonah Bliss & The Curbivore Crew