Though many of their would-be customers no longer have to go to downtown offices and are more frequently sheltering in place, scooter and e-bike companies have still found ways to make money in the pandemic.
The pandemic hit micromobility early on, with riders concerned about cleanliness of the shared devices. But as the health crisis continued, more riders deferred to micromobility as a safe alternative to buses, subways, taxis and commuter trains — all modes that seem crowded, have poor ventilation or simply don't feel COVID-free.
So for now, the working-from-home trend isn't impacting the profitability of bike- and scooter-sharing platforms, and the shared-bike boom continues as more cities work to incorporate micromobility.