A Partnership for Success: Steer and Fourth Economy’s DEIB work in the Shared Micromobility Industry

North American Bikeshare and Scootershare Association (NABSA) is a nonprofit organization committed to providing resources, education, and advocacy for the shared micromobility industry. By fostering collaboration among public, private, and nonprofit sectors within the industry, NABSA facilitates spaces for growth and aims to promote a more equitable and sustainable transportation ecosystem.

Micromobility refers to transportation using lightweight vehicles such as bicycles or scooters, typically referring to those that are rented through a bike share, stationless scooter share, or other self-service rental program.

Over the past few years, shared micromobility has undergone significant transformations and growth. A bike-share or e-scooter system now exists in more than 400 cities across North America.
 

Photo from Cincy Red Bike.

However, alongside these successes, there are areas for improvement. Although the representation of people of color among shared micromobility users has increased, data reveals that white male populations continue to be over-represented. User demographics also skew toward higher-income earners and those under the age of 44. This underscores the need for concerted efforts to ensure that shared micromobility users and operator workforces reflect the diverse communities they serve.

In September 2023, NABSA and the Better Bike Share Partnership published the second edition of their Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging toolkit for improving workplace practices in the shared micromobility industry across North America and Mexico. NABSA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee presented the toolkit at the plenary session of their annual conference. After the presentation, Sally J. Guzik, Vice President at Fourth Economy, led a walkthrough of the toolkit and engagement session with 100+ participants. “The room was filled with enlightening conversations, insights, and shared visions for a more inclusive future,” Sally reflected.

Steer, in partnership with Fourth Economy, was commissioned by NABSA, to develop this toolkit. The toolkit covers the entire shared micromobility workforce development process, from recruitment and hiring through workplace culture, professional development, and tracking progress and measuring the impact of company policies. The toolkit focuses on seven key areas from recruitment and hiring to workplace culture and leadership accountability.

This toolkit spotlights the challenges and opportunities concerning workplace diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within shared micromobility. It celebrates the innovative work already being done by organizations within the industry and provides guidance to those on their journey toward building a better micromobility industry.
 

To develop the toolkit, the team paired research with targeted engagement and interviews with micromobility industry workers to identify best practices and case study examples highlighting workplaces that promoted diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within the US bikeshare and scootershare workforce. NABSA’s DEI Committee supported outreach and provided key feedback throughout the process. The toolkit reflects the industry’s dynamic evolution and increased diversity since the last toolkit was released in 2019.

Our team developed Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging principles that are now included in NABSA’s principles and guidance. Each toolkit section is enriched with action steps, case studies, resources, and a self-assessment to provide tangible strategies to build a more diverse team and promote a more equitable organization. English and Spanish versions of the toolkit are available, with a French version to be published soon. Access the toolkit here: Building a Better Shared Micromobility Industry: Best Practices for More Diverse and Inclusive Workplaces.

We enjoyed working on this project, which featured Steer’s expertise in new mobility and Fourth Economy’s experience in equity-centered initiatives. Whether you're just starting your DEIB journey or you're looking to enhance existing initiatives, this toolkit is a goldmine of actionable insights and strategies. Reach out to Alia Verloes or Chris Worley to continue the conversation. In the meantime, be sure to read our interview with Waffiyyah Murray, DEIB committee chair at NABSA.