Welcome back to the Micromobility Podcast! In this special episode, host Prabin Joel Jones sits down with Horace Dediu, the OG host of the show and co-founder of Micromobility Industries, who coined the term "micromobility" back in 2018.Seven years after the first episode of the Micromobility Podcast where Horace introduced micromobility as vehicles under 500kg, Horace reflects on how the industry has evolved, what he got right, what surprised him, and why he believes micromobility will ultimately win over automobility. From Paris to Helsinki, cities are transforming—and the revolution is happening beneath the radar.Key Topics:The original definition of micromobility and why it still mattersHow COVID, capital swings, and regulation shaped the industryWhy women riders are the key indicator of successThe "Jobs to Be Done" framework applied to mobilityParis, London, and Brussels: Case studies in urban transformationWhy persistence and patience matter more than hypeUpcoming Event: Micromobility Europe - Berlin, June 2-3, 2025 Get tickets at micromobility.ioConnect:Follow the Micromobility PodcastVisit micromobility.io for more resourcesKey Talking Points & Takeaways1. The Definition Still HoldsMicromobility = vehicles under 500kg (excludes cars, includes everything from skateboards to L6E microcars)The weight limit was chosen to deliberately exclude cars while allowing innovationAlternative definitions: "negative space around the car" or "vehicles that lean into corners"2. The Pendulum Has SwungThe industry experienced extreme cyclicality: capital enthusiasm → depression → recoveryCOVID, regulation changes, and political shifts created volatilityDespite media silence, micromobility is thriving at the local level3. Watch the OutliersWomen, children, and elderly users are key indicators of healthy ecosystem adoptionHorace sees women with children on scooters, elderly couples on e-bikes—signs of mainstream acceptanceFood delivery workers enabled by two-wheelers represent utility validation4. Cities Are TransformingParis (Rue de Rivoli), London, Brussels (Grand Place), and small European towns show dramatic changeCars are being slowly pushed back through parking restrictions, speed limits (30 km/h), and congestion charging"As parking goes, so goes the car"5. Jobs to Be Done FrameworkPeople don't travel to minimize cost—they travel to meet lovers, help parents, get educationMicromobility enables higher trip frequency with lower friction than carsPotential for "surfing" in physical space: spontaneous redirection and discovery6. The Long Game"To survive is to win" - persistence matters more than growthSmall, undercapitalized companies have disruption advantageBe hungry for profit, patient for growthSubstance and customer focus beat hype7. Non-Consumption OpportunityMicromobility can unlock mobility for billions without motorized transportSimilar to how bicycles unleashed mobility 120+ years ago in wealthy countriesElectric drive accelerates this potential globally

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