Mobility is a privilege we take for granted. And this is not the case: many people due to age, ailments or other conditions, cannot move freely as they wish.
This is why I find this WheeM-i created by Italdesign very interesting. The name is a fusion of “Wheelchair Mobility integration”, literally “Wheelchair Mobility Integration”, and that's what it is all about. Basically a bike sharing for wheelchair users.
WheeM-i, sustainable micro-mobility
In fact it is a proposal for the first service of micro-mobility shared for users with walking difficulties: as mentioned, a bike sharing for those in a wheelchair.
WheeM-i is a 100% electric and semi-autonomous carrier that brings together the latest driving assistance and electric propulsion technologies. It is specifically designed to allow people with mobility limitations to move freely and easily, because the vehicle makes otherwise hostile parts of the city more accessible.
How WheeM-i bike sharing works
The service is simple and follows that offered by other operators in the sector. Users will be able to book their bike sharing ride from a special app on their smartphone, and pick up their WheeM-i at the nearest hub.
At the end of the ride, just like other bike sharing services, the user can return the vehicle to the hub closest to his destination.
It goes without saying that the era of fully autonomous vehicles will also outweigh the problems associated with the current model. Which? Well, first of all one: if I am interested in bike sharing to make it easier for me to move around, it is because I have difficulty. And if I have to collect the bike sharing vehicle at a point that is not close enough, it is still a problem.
In the future such vehicles will move on their own and reach the user, and you will not have to do anything else but get on board.
“As a company providing development services to the mobility industry around the world, we firmly believe that future mobility must have a positive impact on everyone's life. Bike sharing services like WheeM-i are part of this vision that we really hope to realize, ”he says Jörg AstaloschCEO Italdesign.
