The Micromobility Podcast

Micromobility Industries

Welcome to Micromobility, a podcast exploring the disruption that comes from new lightweight utility vehicles. Using the history of computing as a framework, we unpack what business models and impacts we’re likely to see in transport in cities.

  1. How LYFT Built One of the World’s Largest Bikeshare Networks - Caroline Samponaro, VP Lyft

    6 DAYS AGO

    How LYFT Built One of the World’s Largest Bikeshare Networks - Caroline Samponaro, VP Lyft

    In this episode of the Micromobility Podcast, Prabin Joel Jones speaks with Caroline Samponaro, VP of External Affairs at Lyft Urban Solutions, about building and scaling some of the most successful public bike share programs in the world, and why she believes the station-based model is the future of urban micromobility. Caroline shares her journey from bicycle activist and community organiser in New York City, through a brief stint at dockless pioneer Ofo, to helping Lyft build its infrastructure-first approach to bike share. She breaks down what makes programs like Citi Bike, Divvy, and Capital Bikeshare work, why free-floating was a distraction, and what the next decade of public micromobility looks like. Topics covered: • From anthropology student to bike advocate: Caroline's path into micromobility• What Lyft Urban Solutions actually is and the scale it operates at• Why Lyft doubled down on station-based bike share while Uber walked away• The Citi Bike story: 36k bikes, 47m  trips, and a single-day record of 206k rides• Why free-floating costs 26% more per ride than station-based over a contract lifecycle• The new Pillar station: independent bollards, latch docking, and in-dock charging• How Chicago's Divvy program combines e-bikes, e-scooters, and hybrid parking• What makes a bike share city: network density, political will, and long-term thinking• Protected bike lanes and why infrastructure and tools must go together• Advice for city officials designing or procuring a micro-mobility program

    54 min
  2. Swiss Inventor Behind Today’s Scooter Boom Is Doing It Again With Microcars

    11 MAY

    Swiss Inventor Behind Today’s Scooter Boom Is Doing It Again With Microcars

    In this episode of the Micromobility Podcast, Prabin Joel Jones speaks with Wim Ouboter, Founder & CEO of Micro Mobility Systems and the inventor of the modern kick scooter, about building one of the most iconic micro vehicles in history and then betting everything on the microcar. Wim shares the story behind the Micro scooter's creation, how it scaled to 80,000 units a day, and what happened when the market collapsed under a wave of copies. He then takes us through the journey of building the Microlino, the regulatory battles facing microcars today, and why he believes the pod car is the next major shift in urban mobility. Topics covered:• The bratwurst run that inspired the micro scooter• Scaling to 80,000 units a day and the collapse that followed• Why Wim pivoted from scooters to microcars• The story behind the Microlino and the BMW Isetta• L6 vs L7 and the regulatory challenges facing microcars• The lawsuit against the Swiss government over CO2 credits• Manufacturing in Italy vs China and what changes next• Advice for founders building hardware in mobility today

    1hr 2min
  3. Talking Everything Micromobility with Kevin Talbot - Managing Partner, Relay Ventures

    4 MAY

    Talking Everything Micromobility with Kevin Talbot - Managing Partner, Relay Ventures

    In this episode of the Micromobility Podcast, Prabin Joel Jones speaks with Kevin Talbot, Managing Partner at Relay Ventures and one of the earliest investors in Bird, about the rise, challenges, and future of shared micromobility. Kevin shares the inside story behind Relay Ventures’ investment in Bird, the creation of Bird Canada, and how the franchisee eventually took over the global company. The conversation explores what Bird got right, where the industry struggled, and why consolidation is far from over. They also discuss profitability, regulation, swappable batteries, the future of microcars, and why Kevin believes micromobility will eventually become a two-player global market. Topics covered:• How Relay Ventures invested in Bird• The story behind Bird Canada• What Bird got right and wrong• Why swappable batteries matter• Regulation and city partnerships• Profitability challenges in micromobility• The future of industry consolidation• Why microcars could transform urban mobility• Advice for founders building in mobility today

    1 hr
  4. What’s Driving Shared Micromobility Growth in Chicago? with David Powe, Asst. Commissioner - CDOT

    27 APR

    What’s Driving Shared Micromobility Growth in Chicago? with David Powe, Asst. Commissioner - CDOT

    In this episode of the Micromobility Podcast, Prabin Joel Jones speaks with David Powe, Assistant Commissioner at the Chicago Department of Transportation, about how Chicago is scaling micromobility across the city. They explore the rapid growth in ridership, the expansion of Divvy bike share, and the rise of scooter use led by Lime. The conversation covers how infrastructure, pricing, and public-private partnerships are shaping adoption, along with the balance between station-based and free-floating systems. David also shares insights on safety, affordability, and programs like Bike Chicago that are expanding access. Topics covered: • Chicago’s micromobility growth story• Divvy bike share and system expansion• Rise of e-bikes and scooters• Infrastructure and pricing strategies• Station-based vs free-floating models• Safety challenges and solutions• Expanding access through Bike Chicago• What other cities can learn

    1hr 2min
  5. Understanding Micromobility Insurance with Brandon Schuh, Senior VP & Head of Specialty Insurance, Christensen Group Insurance

    20 APR

    Understanding Micromobility Insurance with Brandon Schuh, Senior VP & Head of Specialty Insurance, Christensen Group Insurance

    In this episode of the Micromobility Podcast, Prabin Joel Jones speaks with Brandon Schuh, Senior VP & Head of Specialty Insurance at Christensen Group, about the evolving role of insurance in the micromobility industry and why it has become a critical piece of the ecosystem. Brandon shares his perspective from working closely with operators across the space, breaking down how insurance has shifted from a barrier to a strategic enabler for micromobility companies. The conversation explores the early challenges insurers faced in understanding the category, and how data, improved vehicle durability, and operational maturity have helped reshape risk models. They discuss how insurance impacts unit economics, why claims data is one of the most valuable assets operators have, and how better alignment between cities, operators, and insurers can unlock more sustainable growth. The episode also dives into common misconceptions around risk, how insurers evaluate different vehicle types, and what operators can do to reduce costs while improving safety outcomes. Topics covered: • Why insurance is critical to the growth of micromobility • Early challenges insurers faced with e scooters and new mobility models • How data has improved underwriting and risk assessment • The relationship between safety, operations, and insurance costs • Why durability and vehicle design matter more than ever • Common misconceptions about micromobility risk • How claims data shapes pricing and coverage decisions • The role of insurers in working with cities and regulators • Differences in insuring scooters, bikes, and emerging vehicle types • How operators can lower premiums through better practices • The link between insurance and long term profitability • What the future of micromobility insurance could look like

    56 min
  6. Why Some Cities Win at Micromobility with Karen Vancluysen, Secretary General of POLIS

    13 APR

    Why Some Cities Win at Micromobility with Karen Vancluysen, Secretary General of POLIS

    In this episode of the Micromobility Podcast, Prabin Joel Jones speaks with Karen Vancluysen, Secretary General of Polis Network, about how cities across Europe are navigating the rise of micromobility and what separates those that succeed from those that struggle. Karen shares insights from over 30 years in urban mobility and more than 20 years at Polis, offering a behind the scenes look at how cities think about regulation, infrastructure, and innovation. The conversation explores why many of today’s mobility challenges have remained unchanged for decades, and how micromobility is forcing cities to finally act. They discuss the evolution of e scooters since 2018, the role of e bikes in extending trips beyond 5 km, and why infrastructure and space reallocation are more important than any new technology. The episode also dives into what cities got wrong in the early days, how regulation is evolving, and why partnerships between cities and operators are key to long term success. Topics covered: • Why urban mobility challenges have remained the same for over 30 years• The role of Polis Network and how cities collaborate• The arrival of micromobility and lessons since 2018• Why infrastructure is the biggest factor in success or failure• Moving from free floating chaos to structured hybrid systems• The importance of data driven decision making• Why micromobility is still expensive and where subsidies make sense• Real world examples from cities like Antwerp, Oslo, and Rome• Expanding micromobility beyond city centers into regional areas• New vehicle types and the challenges they bring• Why space reallocation matters more than technology• What the next 10 years could look like for cities

    1hr 7min
  7. Charging As A Service with Marcus Adolfsson, CEO of Standab

    6 APR

    Charging As A Service with Marcus Adolfsson, CEO of Standab

    In this episode of the Micromobility Podcast, Prabin Joel Jones speaks with Marcus Adolfsson, CEO of Standab, about one of the most overlooked yet critical parts of shared micromobility: charging infrastructure. Marcus shares how Standab evolved from solving scooter parking challenges in Stockholm to building a data-driven charging network now operating across multiple European cities. The conversation explores why charging is a major cost driver and how rethinking infrastructure can improve efficiency and reduce costs. They also discuss Standab’s approach to working with cities, rapid fleet deployment, and its usage-based model that removes upfront risk while improving fleet performance and influencing user behavior. Topics covered:Charging Infrastructure • Why charging is one of the biggest cost centers in micromobility• The evolution of charging from manual operations to scalable infrastructure• Building a system that works for users, cities, and operators• How Standab uses data to determine where charging should be deployed• Retrofitting existing fleets in minutes• A usage-based business model that removes upfront investment• Real-world impact and cost reductions for operators• How infrastructure can influence better parking and behavior• Standab’s expansion across Europe and what comes next

    44 min
  8. How Veo Built a Profitable Shared Micromobility Company with Candice Xie, Co-founder and CEO of Veo

    30 MAR

    How Veo Built a Profitable Shared Micromobility Company with Candice Xie, Co-founder and CEO of Veo

    In this episode of the Micromobility Podcast, Prabin Joel Jones sits down with Candice Xie, Co-founder and CEO of Veo, to explore how a company that raised just $16 million built one of the only genuinely EBIT-positive shared micromobility businesses in the United States. Candice walks through Veo's journey from a garage in Chicago to over $50 million in revenue, covering the decision to build their own hardware, why starting on university campuses was the right call, and what operational discipline actually looks like in a business this hard to make profitable.  The conversation also covers Veo's expanding vehicle lineup, the thinking behind keeping field operations in-house, and how they won the largest exclusive micromobility contract in the United States with Denver this year. Topics covered:• Raising less and building more• Hardware, accessibility and the case for a broader vehicle lineup• The campus-first market entry strategy• How Veo reached EBIT profitability• Why in-house operations matter more than most operators admit• The Denver exclusive contract and long-term city partnerships• What comes next for Veo in North America and beyond

    49 min
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About

Welcome to Micromobility, a podcast exploring the disruption that comes from new lightweight utility vehicles. Using the history of computing as a framework, we unpack what business models and impacts we’re likely to see in transport in cities.

Information

  • Creator
    Micromobility Industries
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    255
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Micromobility Industries
  • Show Website
    The Micromobility Podcast

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