Wendy Rodriguez: MOVE America Conference 2022
MOVE America is the meeting place for the world’s transportation tech and mobility giants, this year’s event featured almost 400 speakers, 200+ exhibitors, 150 startups, and welcomed more than 3,000 attendees from all over the world.
Over the span of a day, I heard from company leaders and mobility experts on various topics including micro mobility, autonomous vehicles, and the future of commuting. Below are some highlights from the sessions:
Sustainable tech and mobility solutions are urgently needed to combat climate change and reach a carbon zero future.
Cities are built for cars, not bikes or scooters. Urban planning and mobility must be reimagined to prioritize diverse ways of commuting.
It’s important for mobility startups/companies to partner with governments and nonprofits and take advantage of the “golden era” because of the amount of federal funding benefiting them.
Technology is key to efficiently managing today’s corporate mobility programs.
A shift to electric school buses from diesel is vital to ensuring student and public health.
Government Regulations lag 10-15 years behind technology. A collaboration with governments and companies is needed to push forward existing federal regulations that currently limit autonomous vehicles.
Micro mobility and transportation as a whole must be inclusive to all.
In addition to learning about current and future mobility initiatives, I also had the pleasure of connecting with such enthusiastic entrepreneurs and startups. It was incredible to see the creative solutions they developed to tackle mobility challenges. Some of these ideas and products included transportation apps, zero carbon vehicles, and improvements to micro-mobility infrastructure. I even got to test ride an electric bike designed right here in Austin!
I left the conference hopeful that a carbon zero world is possible in our lifetime. It’s inspiring to know that with the help and collaboration of companies, governments, and people, technology and innovation can drive us to a more sustainable future.