MICRO-MOBILITY EXHIBITION

Championing last and first mile connections

Gauteng, South Africa

Creating an integrated transportation system

In October 2024, the Active Mobility Forum, in collaboration with Young Urbanists NPC, hosted the Micro-Mobility Exhibition and curated the first Active Mobility & Universal Access Stage at Smarter Mobility Africa, held at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

While Smarter Mobility Africa has long been a leader in the electric vehicle and public transport space, this was one of the first major efforts to give walking, cycling, and small electric modes of transport the visibility and depth they deserve in national mobility discussions.

The Micro-Mobility Exhibition ran across both days of the conference and featured a wide range of practical, locally-relevant micro-mobility modes: from cargo bikes and delivery e-bikes to waste trolleys, wheelchairs, and skateboards. Partners like Green Riders, Go Electric, Mellovan, and Blind SA showcased real-world applications and innovations aligned with our soon-to-be-launched Micro-Mobility Framework.

PEDESTRIAN

Primary use: Everyday walking, short distances, and informal economy (e.g., street vendors).

GHG emissions: 0 g CO₂/person-km (zero emissions).Requires minimal space per occupant (0.5 - 1.0 m²).

Free and accessible to everyone, especially low-income users.

No license required.

Widely available in cities globally, supporting the informal economy and promoting healthy lifestyles.

Example: You

ESCOOTER

Primary use: Last-mile commuting and recreation.

GHG emissions: ~25 g CO₂/person-km.

Space required: ~1.2 m² per occupant.

Costs range from R1,500 to R10,000.

No license required.

Common in urban areas and popular with tourists and urban dwellers for first and last-mile trips. Can be regulated to be safe like where to go or how fast.

Example: Segway

PEDAL BICYCLE

Primary use: Commuting, exercise, and leisure.

GHG emissions: 0 g CO₂/person-km (zero emissions). Requires ~1.0 m² per occupant.

Costs range from R1,000 to R5,000 for second hand and from R1,000 to R25,000 first hand

No license required.

Ideal for eco-conscious commuters and recreational users in cities globally.

Example: Avalanche or Rook Bicycle

EBIKE

Primary use: Transport of goods and deliveries.

GHG emissions: ~25-30 g CO₂/person-km.

Requires ~1.2 - 2.5 m² per occupant.

Prices range from R25,000 to R50,000.

No license required for general use.

Used primarily by delivery services and local businesses to reduce fuel costs and emissions.

Example: Green Riders, Stroos

ELECTRIC LIGHT COMMERCIAL VEHICLE

Primary use: Goods transportation and urban deliveries.

GHG emissions: ~90-120 g CO₂/person-km.

Requires ~3-6 m² per occupant.

Prices start from R100,000+.

A license is required.

Essential for high-capacity deliveries in urban centers, widely used by service providers.

Example: Mellovan, Moto Taxi, etc.

EMOPED

Primary use: Commuting and deliveries.

GHG emissions: ~25-30 g CO₂/person-km.

Requires ~1.2 m² per occupant.

Prices range from R25,000 to R75,000.

A license is required.

Popular with delivery workers and urban commuters for mid-range trips.

Example: Valternative

WASTE TROLLEY

Primary use: Collecting and transporting waste.

GHG emissions: 0 g CO₂/person-km (zero emissions).

Requires ~1.0 - 2.0 m² per occupant.

Prices range from R1,000 to R3,000.

No license required.

Across Africa, informal waste pickers are vital, collecting 20-90% of recyclables, including 80-90% in South Africa. They often lack formal recognition and support despite their crucial role in waste management.

Example: CCID in Cape Town and WasteEntrepreneurs in Johannesburg

WHEELCHAIR

Primary use: Accessibility for people with disabilities.

GHG emissions: 0 g CO₂/person-km (zero emissions).

Requires ~1.0 - 1.2 m² per occupant.

Prices range from R3,000 to R20,000.

No license required.

Universal access to transport is law in South Africa under Government Gazette 40174 (2016). The NTR1 standard ensures all transport is accessible to disabled individuals, a model that should be adopted across Africa to enhance inclusivity.

EXAMPLES: CE Mobility, others, etc

—————————————————————————-

In parallel, we convened the Active Mobility & Universal Access Stage, a full-day programme of talks, panels, and debates tackling some of South Africa’s most urgent transport challenges—especially for pedestrians, cyclists, and vulnerable road users. Key highlights included:

Road Safety & Universal Access. We explored the staggering economic and human cost of preventable road deaths—currently estimated at 37 lives lost per day in South Africa—with input from the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), civil engineers, and grassroots safety advocates. Importantly, the conversation expanded beyond statistics to interrogate how road design systematically excludes people with disabilities, women, children, and the elderly. Universal access emerged as a non-negotiable standard—not a “nice-to-have”—for future infrastructure and transport policy.

Commuting by Bicycle. Two dynamic sessions focused on the state of commuter cycling in South Africa: who actually cycles, what barriers exist, and how better design, protection, and visibility can shift perceptions and usage. Panellists from across the public and private sectors laid out a clear path forward for safe, connected cycling networks that serve real mobility needs—not just recreation.

Formalising Micro-Mobility. The closing session—moderated by Andile Skosana—zeroed in on the emerging micro-mobility ecosystem in South Africa. Operators and advocates discussed the need for a national framework that supports growth without restrictive over-regulation. From delivery bikes to informal waste collectors, the conversation underscored how micro-mobility intersects with livelihoods, environmental goals, and transport equity.

This wasn’t just an exhibition—it was a milestone for active mobility advocacy in South Africa. Minister Barbara Creecy’s visit further elevated the platform, as she noted the urgent need for better integration between rail and safe, reliable first- and last-mile solutions.

We are now working with Kembali Consulting and partner municipalities to finalise a Micro-Mobility Framework to guide planning and policy at the local level. Since the exhibition, important legislative progress has been made—most notably, changes to the National Road Traffic Act now legally recognise e-bikes as a formal mode of transport. You can listen to our Managing Director speaking to Clarence Ford on CapeTalk on the opportunity this amendment brings.

And yes—we plan to return to Smarter Mobility Africa later this year with an even bigger and more inclusive Micro-Mobility Exhibition. Watch this space.

PEDESTRIAN

Primary use: Everyday walking, short distances, and informal economy (e.g., street vendors).

GHG emissions: 0 g CO₂/person-km (zero emissions).Requires minimal space per occupant (0.5 - 1.0 m²).

Free and accessible to everyone, especially low-income users.

No license required.

Widely available in cities globally, supporting the informal economy and promoting healthy lifestyles.

Example: You

ESCOOTER

Primary use: Last-mile commuting and recreation.

GHG emissions: ~25 g CO₂/person-km.

Space required: ~1.2 m² per occupant.

Costs range from R1,500 to R10,000.

No license required.

Common in urban areas and popular with tourists and urban dwellers for first and last-mile trips. Can be regulated to be safe like where to go or how fast.

Example: Segway

PEDAL BICYCLE

Primary use: Commuting, exercise, and leisure.

GHG emissions: 0 g CO₂/person-km (zero emissions). Requires ~1.0 m² per occupant.

Costs range from R1,000 to R5,000 for second hand and from R1,000 to R25,000 first hand

No license required.

Ideal for eco-conscious commuters and recreational users in cities globally.

Example: Avalanche or Rook Bicycle

EBIKE

Primary use: Transport of goods and deliveries.

GHG emissions: ~25-30 g CO₂/person-km.

Requires ~1.2 - 2.5 m² per occupant.

Prices range from R25,000 to R50,000.

No license required for general use.

Used primarily by delivery services and local businesses to reduce fuel costs and emissions.

Example: Green Riders, Stroos

ELECTRIC LIGHT COMMERCIAL VEHICLE

Primary use: Goods transportation and urban deliveries.

GHG emissions: ~90-120 g CO₂/person-km.

Requires ~3-6 m² per occupant.

Prices start from R100,000+.

A license is required.

Essential for high-capacity deliveries in urban centers, widely used by service providers.

Example: Mellovan, Moto Taxi, etc.

EMOPED

Primary use: Commuting and deliveries.

GHG emissions: ~25-30 g CO₂/person-km.

Requires ~1.2 m² per occupant.

Prices range from R25,000 to R75,000.

A license is required.

Popular with delivery workers and urban commuters for mid-range trips.

Example: Valternative

WASTE TROLLEY

Primary use: Collecting and transporting waste.

GHG emissions: 0 g CO₂/person-km (zero emissions).

Requires ~1.0 - 2.0 m² per occupant.

Prices range from R1,000 to R3,000.

No license required.

Example: CCID in Cape Town and WasteEntrepreneurs in Johannesburg

WHEELCHAIR

Primary use: Accessibility for people with disabilities.

GHG emissions: 0 g CO₂/person-km (zero emissions).

Requires ~1.0 - 1.2 m² per occupant.

Prices range from R3,000 to R20,000.

No license required.

EXAMPLES: CE Mobility, others, etc

—————————————————————————-

And yes—we plan to return to Smarter Mobility Africa later this year with an even bigger and more inclusive Micro-Mobility Exhibition. Watch this space.

In October 2024, we hosted the first Micro-Mobility Exhibition and curated the Active Mobility & Universal Access Stage at Smarter Mobility Africa. The two-day showcase featured local micro-mobility solutions—from e-bikes and cargo scooters to waste trolleys and mobility aids—while the stage convened national voices on road safety, universal access, commuter cycling, and micro-mobility policy.

Since then, the National Road Traffic Act was amended to formally recognise e-bikes on South African roads. We are now working with Kembali Consulting and partner cities on a Micro-Mobility Framework, and plan to bring the exhibition back to SMA later this year.

For more, read YU's 2024 - 25' Chairperson's Report here.

MEDIA Listen to the Minister of Transportation speaking at the Summit around why railway system should be the backbone for passengers and freight.

COLLABORATORS Project managed by Young Urbanists Partnership between Active Mobility Forum and Smarter Mobility Africa

SPECIAL THANKS TO Smarter Mobility Africa, Green Riders, Go Electric, Mellovan, Rook, Blind SA, WastePreneurs, SDI Trust, Safe Passage Programme and Valternative for showcasing micro-mobility in action; and to RTMC, the Department of Transport, SAICE, UCT, City of Johannesburg, ITDP Africa, Uber South Africa, and CityCon Africa for contributing to the Active Mobility & Universal Access Stage

NEXT STEPS We’re finalising a national Micro-Mobility Framework with Kembali Consulting and municipal partners, following recent changes to the National Road Traffic Act. And yes—the Micro-Mobility Exhibition might return to Smarter Mobility Africa later this year, bigger and more inclusive.

We Advocate for Infrastructure, not paint. Fueled by Young Urbanists and the Bicycle Mayor of Cape Town

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