Big Benefits from Small Modes With a little help and encouragement, active and micro modes, including walking, bicycling, scooters, e-bikes, and their variants, can provide huge benefits. Todd Litman | February 22, 2021, 7am PST Share According to the National Household Travel Survey approximately 12% of total personal trips in the United States are currently made by active modes, but with appropriate facility improvements and incentives, active and micro mode shares could be much higher and significantly reduce automobile travel. According to the study, "Active Transportation Transforms America: The Case for Increased Public Investment in Walking and Biking Connectivity," approximately a quarter of all personal trips in the United States are one mile or less, suitable for a walk; half of all vehicle trips are three miles or less, suitable for a bike ride; and most trips are less than five miles, suitable for an e-bike ride. Similarly, a major academic study, "A Global High Shift Cycling Scenario," estimated that improving bicycle and e-bike conditions could increase urban bicycling mode shares from the current 6% up to 17% in 2030 and up to 22% in 2050. Other studies in North America and Europe estimate that, accounting for various climatic and geographic constraints, e-bikes could achieve 10-15% mode shares and produce up to 12% emission reductions in typical urban areas.