- Title: Autonomy expo in Paris envisions future of urban mobility
- Date: 7th October 2016
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (OCTOBER 7, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EXHIBITORS AND VISITORS TRYING OUT MOBILITY DEVICES ON TEST TRACK VARIOUS OF EXHIBITORS SHOWING VISITORS HOW TO USE THE SELF-BALANCING NINEBOT "ONE S2", MADE BY SEGWAY AND THE "UNICYCLE" MADE BY INMOTION INMOTION EXHIBITOR DOING TRICK ON UNICYCLE SIGN FOR AUTONOMY EXPO (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUTONOMY FOUNDER AND CEO, ROSS DOUGLAS, SAYING: "What's so important about urban mobility is that it enables people to get onto the street very quickly, have human interactions with the butcher, the grocer, the cheesemaker, to sit on the street and enjoy a coffee in a quiet environment without the noise of motorbikes because now they are electric scooters instead, without the danger of pollution. And I believe that life should be lived on the street, it shouldn't be lived in shopping malls and when you live on the street, it shouldn't be compromised by pollution and noise. And new mobility can change that very quickly." EXHIBITOR SHOWING VISITOR HOW TO USE MOBILITY DEVICE VISITOR CLIMBING ONTO MOBILITY DEVICE SEGWAY (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUTONOMY FOUNDER AND CEO, ROSS DOUGLAS, SAYING: "I think what will happen is that it (incorporation of mobility devices) will get three big pushes. The first one will be a political push where policy makers will start pushing car usage out of cities and they'll do that for two reasons: one is to reduce pollution and carbon emissions, and the other is to reduce congestion. I think the next big change will come mainly from millennials who don't want car ownership, want to move around in different ways that are flexible. And then the third big change will come from technology, people like Uber and Google providing in the future driverless cars and app technology to move people: effective mobility as a service." PEOPLE WALKING IN EXPO VARIOUS OF MOBILITY DEVICES (SOUNDBITE) (French) AUTONOMY EXPO VISITOR, CHANTAL, SAYING: "I thought it was hard but I think you can learn quickly and I thought it was really amazing, it doesn't pollute, it moves quite quickly and I think you can learn in a few hours." BOOTHS AT EXPO VISITOR LOOKING AT INMOTION "GYROROUES" MOBILITY DEVICES VARIOUS OF GYROROUES ON DISPLAY HOVERBOARDS ON DISPLAY VARIOUS OF ELECTRIC BICYCLES ON DISPLAY VARIOUS OF MAN DEMONSTRATING THE RAINBOW "EV4" ELECTRIC QUADRICYCLE (SOUNDBITE) (French) AUTONOMY EXPO VISITOR, BENJAMIN, SAYING: "Along with the (Paris) Motor Show I really wanted to know what the new mobility options were in Paris and clearly, I'm telling myself that the autonomous car hasn't yet arrived, so I wanted to see how one could get around differently." VARIOUS OF SNCF'S "PEPPER" THE ROBOT EXHIBITOR HOLDING ELECTRIC ASSISTED BICYCLE VISITOR DRIVING MICRO MOBILITY SYSTEMS AG "MICROLINO CAR" PARIS, FRANCE (OCTOBER 6, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MAN RIDING ON MONO-WHEEL ON RIVER BANK
- Embargoed: 22nd October 2016 16:50
- Keywords: Autonomy Paris urban mobility start-ups city transportation hoverboard electric longboard cars motorbikes driverless
- Location: PARIS, FRANCE
- City: PARIS, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Economic Events
- Reuters ID: LVA001530BI3D
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Autonomy, a new Paris gathering of ride-sharing startups and other "urban mobility" operators, opened its doors to the public on Friday (October 7) for a festival dedicated entirely to the future of urban transportation.
Visitors were able to try out different mobility devices on the test tracks such as electric longboards, hoverboards, push-scooters and "transportation robots", like the self-balancing Ninebot scooters developed by Segway which are based on a gyroscopic directional system.
Bringing together aspects from both industry and digital technology, the aim of exhibitors at Autonomy is to revolutionise transportation habits in cities by developing eco-friendly and effective ways for city-dwellers to get around, a concept explained by Autonomy founder and CEO Ross Douglas.
"What's so important about urban mobility is that it enables people to get onto the street very quickly, have human interactions with the butcher, the grocer, the cheesemaker, to sit on the street and enjoy a coffee in a quiet environment without the noise of motorbikes because now they are electric scooters instead, without the danger of pollution. And I believe that life should be lived on the street, it shouldn't be lived in shopping malls and when you live on the street, it shouldn't be compromised by pollution and noise. And new mobility can change that very quickly," he said.
Many executive car brands such as Ford and BMW took a pass on the Paris Motor show as the outcry over "dieselgate" and weak emissions regulation has sharpened enthusiasm for electrified motoring.
As if to underline growing hostility towards combustion engines in congestion-clogged cities, the French capital held its biggest ever "Car-Free Day" the Sunday before the show. Lawmakers voted the following day to pedestrianise the Seine's right bank, permanently closing a major traffic artery.
"I think what will happen is that it (incorporation of mobility devices) will get three big pushes. The first one will be a political push where policy makers will start pushing car usage out of cities and they'll do that for two reasons: one is to reduce pollution and carbon emissions, and the other is to reduce congestion. I think the next big change will come mainly from millennials who don't want car ownership, want to move around in different ways that are flexible. And then the third big change will come from technology, people like Uber and Google providing in the future driverless cars and app technology to move people: effective mobility as a service," Douglas added.
Nearly 200 exhibitors put an array of urban mobility devices on display at Paris' Grande Halle de la Villette where the event took place, as visitors took their time to inspect and ask about the products, like Benjamin who said he was quite interested by the EV4 electric quadricycle made by Rainbow.
"Along with the (Paris) Motor Show I really wanted to know what the new mobility options were in Paris and clearly, I'm telling myself that the autonomous car hasn't yet arrived, so I wanted to see how one could get around differently," he said.
Visitors of all ages were able to find a transportation method which catered to their needs and preferences, from three-wheeled push scooters for toddlers to electric assisted bicycles for the elderly. Some exhibitors even took the extra step to develop lighter, more performant electric wheelchairs.
The exhibition will run from October 7 to 9. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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