Scooters, e-bikes gain traction as virus lockdowns ease

A man riding a eScooter on June 8, 2020 on Via della Conciliazione in Rome near The Vatican and its Basilica (background) as the country eases its lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the Covid-19 infection, caused by the novel coronavirus. Electric bikes and scooters, dismissed before the pandemic as a curiosity or nuisance, are getting fresh traction in cities seeking new transportation options as they emerge from lockdowns. — AFP

WASHINGTON: Electric bikes and scooters, dismissed before the pandemic as a curiosity or nuisance, are getting fresh traction in cities seeking new transportation options as they emerge from lockdowns.

Some "micromobility" operators which cut back or shut down during the coronavirus lockdowns are now expanding to meet growing demands.