Fall seems to be the season for Mobility-as-a-Service panels and debates.
Speaking at several has led me to reflect on my own MaaS journey, summarized in the
below (w/article links).
TLDR: Despite great promise and hype, very few people use MaaS today. We need new models.
Speaking at several has led me to reflect on my own MaaS journey, summarized in the

TLDR: Despite great promise and hype, very few people use MaaS today. We need new models.
2/ I first learned about MaaS ~5 years ago. It offered a captivating vision: Leverage new technology to knit together trips on transit, bikeshare, carshare, scooters etc to improve cities and reduce private driving.
I was fascinated and wanted to learn more.
I was fascinated and wanted to learn more.
3/ 2 years ago I heard a top US transportation guru cite Helsinki as the future of urban mobility âbecause everyone there uses Whim, a MaaS app, to get around town.â
I then met several Finns who disagreed. That led to this article, my first about MaaS. https://www.citylab.com/perspective/2018/10/helsinkis-maas-app-whim-is-it-really-mobilitys-great-hope/573841/
I then met several Finns who disagreed. That led to this article, my first about MaaS. https://www.citylab.com/perspective/2018/10/helsinkis-maas-app-whim-is-it-really-mobilitys-great-hope/573841/
4/ Neutral startup platforms werenât the only ones promoting MaaS at the time.
Uberâs CEO said he wanted to be the âAmazon of transportation.â
That struck me as dangerous. I wrote this article warning about what I call âmobility walled gardens.â https://www.fastcompany.com/90261748/why-uber-and-lyft-want-to-create-walled-gardens-and-why-its-bad-for-urban-mobility
Uberâs CEO said he wanted to be the âAmazon of transportation.â
That struck me as dangerous. I wrote this article warning about what I call âmobility walled gardens.â https://www.fastcompany.com/90261748/why-uber-and-lyft-want-to-create-walled-gardens-and-why-its-bad-for-urban-mobility
5/ The deeper I got into MaaS, the more I realized that *any* MaaS solution-- good or bad-- relies on government to improve transit, protect micromobility users, and price auto use higher.
But policy isn't as flashy as a slick MaaS app. So I wrote this. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-11-13/going-car-free-will-take-more-than-mobility-apps
But policy isn't as flashy as a slick MaaS app. So I wrote this. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-11-13/going-car-free-will-take-more-than-mobility-apps
6/ Meanwhile I've been looking for an example of a MaaS platform that sparked mode shift, but I haven't found one.
A few transit agencies launched their own MaaS app (like Berlinâs Jelbi), but I don't see evidence of widespread use with those either.
A few transit agencies launched their own MaaS app (like Berlinâs Jelbi), but I don't see evidence of widespread use with those either.
7/ Finally, I pulled my ideas together and wrote this @CityLab article about thorny tensions within the MaaS B2C business model.
Other MaaS approaches might workâlike B2B or a solution for car ownersâbut the hype of 5 years ago hasnât panned out. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-05/the-struggle-to-make-mobility-as-a-service-make-money
Other MaaS approaches might workâlike B2B or a solution for car ownersâbut the hype of 5 years ago hasnât panned out. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-05/the-struggle-to-make-mobility-as-a-service-make-money
8/ That @citylab piece drew a slew of responses, many of them smart and entertaining rebuttals. A few of note:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/trending-maas-piia-karjalainen/
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/maas-beer-stijn-vernaillen/
https://whimapp.com/maas-is-like-a-heavy-metal-band/
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/boyd-cohen-ph-d-211869a_maas-activity-6696858551253647360-HaT3/
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/trending-maas-piia-karjalainen/
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/maas-beer-stijn-vernaillen/
https://whimapp.com/maas-is-like-a-heavy-metal-band/
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/boyd-cohen-ph-d-211869a_maas-activity-6696858551253647360-HaT3/
9/ Iâm still searching for evidence MaaS can meet its hype. But Iâm not sure how, unless brave public officials lift transit + micromobility and suppress driving.
A city like Mayor Hidalgo's Paris could be a MaaS hotbed â*if* MaaS biz models work. https://www.forbes.com/sites/carltonreid/2020/10/20/paris-mayor-anne-hidalgo-to-make-good-on-pledge-to-remove-half-of-citys-car-parking-spaces/#754f3eb716ec
A city like Mayor Hidalgo's Paris could be a MaaS hotbed â*if* MaaS biz models work. https://www.forbes.com/sites/carltonreid/2020/10/20/paris-mayor-anne-hidalgo-to-make-good-on-pledge-to-remove-half-of-citys-car-parking-spaces/#754f3eb716ec
10/ For more info, the OECDâs @ITF_Forum has an intriguing new report of MaaS: https://www.itf-oecd.org/pricing-and-efficient-public-transport-supply-mobility-service-context
To be clear, I want car-light cities to thrive. I just donât see evidence (yet) that MaaS will get us there.
Want to tell me why Iâm wrong? Have data to share? I'm all ears.
To be clear, I want car-light cities to thrive. I just donât see evidence (yet) that MaaS will get us there.
Want to tell me why Iâm wrong? Have data to share? I'm all ears.