Support Us Button Widget

Micromobility options in Richmond, VA

Bikes, scooters, and skateboards are all considered forms of micromobility. Learn what Richmond’s future might look like and see how other cities take advantage of these resources.

A line of RVA Bike Share bikes are docked on Broad Street by the Science Museum.

RVA Bike Share bikes at the ready outside the Science Museum.

Photo by RICtoday

Table of Contents

EDITOR’S NOTE: RVA Bike Share suspended services in May 2023 due to the financial difficulties of contractor Bewegen Technologies. The city did not provide a timeline for reopening the program but said it was looking for a new contractor and promised a month of free rides when the program returns.

Micromobility has become an option for improving transit in the City of Richmond. The term refers to a range of small vehicles that operate at speeds around 15 mph — think bicycles, e-bikes, skateboards, and scooters.

The main focus has been on e-scooters and the city’s bicycle program, RVA Bike Share.

Scooters

In the past year, two of Richmond’s licensed electric scooter providers have pulled out of the market, but several other companies have reached out to the Office of Equitable Transit and Mobility to expand service into the city.

Right now, Richmonders can catch a ride on a Bird or Lime scooter. Just pay attention to the city’s do’s + don’ts of scooter riding.

There is also a proposed ordinance which might make it easier to scoot around the city. It would make it so that scooters can operate until 1 a.m. (currently, they shut off at 9 p.m.) and would mandate that 20% of each fleet would remain south of the river.

Bike share

RVA Bike Share is also expanding options, particularly in Southside. The newest station at Carter Jones Park opened Wed., Aug. 17. It offers membership options as well as per-ride, day, and weekly passes.

Different models

Micromobility looks different around the country + the world. Minneapolis has mobility hubs that connect different forms of transit, including e-scooters and bikes. In Paris, the bike-sharing service Vélib’ Métropole boasts 20,000 bicycles — 40% of them electric — and 1,400 docking points.

Dream big — what do you think should be the future of micromobility in Richmond? Are you in favor of more scooters, more bikes, or some new innovation? Let us know.

More from RICtoday
Escape the cold and snow by taking one of these affordable flights to a new city.
Metro Richmond Zoo is putting their new pgymy hippos — Iris and Poppy — front and center on its daily live stream feed on YouTube.
Take a look at these locally owned classic diners in Richmond, Virginia that are serving plates of comfort food.
Here are some ideas to help get you on your way to some commons goals for the new year in our city.
The City of Richmond is hosting a Day of Service on Saturday, Jan. 11, aiming to bring important resources to in-need areas.
Richmond will be star-studded at the start of 2025 with a wide range of concerts and shows taking place in the winter season.
These regulations will impact employee benefits, health care, and the services available to Virginia residents in 2025.
Commonwealth Fusion Systems is investing billions to build the power plant at the James River Industrial Center.
Whether you’re interested in local news, music, sports, or wellness, there’s a River City podcast for you.
Let us know what we should cover in the River City in 2025.