How operators can make voting easier for their communities

Voting is a cornerstone of democracy, as it’s one of the most impactful things you can do for both yourself and your community. Voter participation is a learned activity and one that should never be taken for granted. Albeit voting has historically been cumbersome, we’re motivated to put our software to good use in an effort to make the process just a little bit easier.

"We are proud to see so many of our members on a united mission to get American citizens to their polling places,” said Sam Herr, Executive Director at NABSA. “Not only does shared micromobility provide riders with the freedom of fun, sustainable transportation but it also plays a vital role in eliminating the transportation barrier that exists for millions of voters.”

According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, transportation is a notable roadblock between people voting, largely among young adults. Between the ages of 18 and 29, a whopping 29% of that category cited transportation as a reason why they didn’t vote, and 15% cited it as a major deciding factor. Pairing these stats with a global pandemic paints a bigger picture of just how convoluted the voting process has the potential to be for many. While there are numerous obstacles that impact individual voters, the one thing that won’t change is the date of the election itself.

For those who have found transportation to be an obstacle, Gotcha Mobility is spearheading Roll to the Polls, a nationwide initiative designed to help voters roll to the polls by making their rides free or discounted to use during election day.

Follow the link above for additional information on Roll to the Polls, double checking your voter registration, and making a plan to vote whether that be in person or by mail.

“From Gotcha’s perspective, Election Day is the one day when millions of people have to get somewhere and do something very important. We believe micromobility can, and should, play a role in helping to make that happen.,” said Anne Morgan, Chief Marketing Officer at Gotcha. “It’s not just about the fun Saturday afternoon bike ride, we should be part of the solution for everyday travel, including a day when we all are called on to be an active part of our democracy. That’s why we are encouraging all our NABSA member partners and shared mobility operators to join Roll to the Polls and commit to making their systems free (or at least discounted).”

Ebikes and escooters both serve as solutions for cities and college campuses because they give riders a safe alternative to public transportation and rideshares.

Are you a US system operator? Encourage users in your community to vote by providing free rentals to use on election day using the promo code VOTE19. Learn how to create promo codes in our system here.

Micromobility can be many things, with fun and freedom being a common variable among most of those things. In some cities however, it can play a very pivotal role in whether or not people get the opportunity to make it to their polling location to place their vote, because sharing mobility is, at times, bigger than a bike or a scooter. Sharing mobility is also sharing opportunity.