PRESS RELEASE
ANNOUNCING THE COMMISSION FOR MICROMOBILITY AND SPORT
Creating a new movement in Sport and Mobility
● Leading figures are assembled from sport and mobility to establish a new landmark Commission
● New governing body will champion, grow and regulate new categories of sustainable micromobility in sport
● Not-for-profit policy platform advocating for smarter, safer and more sustainable forms of urban micromobility
● Alex Wurz appointed President
London, UK: As eSC prepares for the inaugural round of the world’s first electric scooter racing series - the eSkootr Championship - later this week in London (13/14 May), a new Commission for Micromobility and Sport has been announced today to regulate and promote the safe and sustainable development of micromobility in sport and urban micromobility.
The Commission will draw on the expertise gained in the development of the new eSkootr Championship, and from the wealth of knowledge its members bring from across the sport and mobility sectors, to champion and grow new categories of sustainable micromobility in sport.
Alex Wurz, a leading motorsport and road safety advocate, has been appointed President of the Commission.
Governance
The Commission for Micromobility and Sport’s governance roadmap begins with the eSkootr Championship - the Pro level of this brand-new category of sport. Guided by a unique team of experts with a deep knowledge of world championship categories of motorsport, the Commission’s sporting, technical, safety, medical and sustainability groups will shape the new rules and oversee their implementation and consistent application to ensure the sport is well-regulated and run in a fair, equitable, safe, sustainably responsible and inclusive manner.
Encouraging the development of grassroots competition is a key priority, creating an accessible and clear pathway from the grassroots to the elite level, with national and regional infrastructures to facilitate rider and team development.
Building partnerships with mission-driven organisations who share the Commission’s values is fundamental to its approach. Thought leaders from a wide range of backgrounds and committed to sport as a platform for purpose are being invited to join the Commission’s multi-stakeholder groups which include:
● Sport
Chaired by Silvia Bellot, the first and only female F1 Steward and FIA Race Director, with a wealth of experience in a variety of motorsport disciplines, including F2 and F3 as Race Director and over a decade as F1, WTCC, WRC, FE, F2 and F3 Chair and International Steward. FIA Women in Motorsport Ambassador.
The group will oversee the drafting and application of the Sporting Regulations and Sporting Code that will govern micromobility sport, assuring safety and fair play for teams and riders and aspiring to the very highest standards in global sport.
● Safety
Chaired by Andy Mellor, Advisor to the F1 Technical Working Group. Formerly Vice President FIA Safety Commission, Research Director at FIA Institute for Motor Sport Safety and Sustainability and Head of Motorsport at the UK Transport Research Laboratory.
The group will ensure safety research and best practice developed for racing can lead to innovations in electric scooter design, rider safety equipment and transport infrastructure to influence and be implemented across the world of consumer micromobility.
● Sustainability
Chaired by Dr Cristiana Pace, FIA Environmental and Sustainability Commission member. Motorsport UK Sustainability Advisor. Formerly Advisor to the FIA Institute for Motor Sport Safety and Sustainability and the FIA F1 technical team’s first female engineer. Ambassador for Girls on Track Motorsport UK and Silverstone Technology Cluster. Women in Engineering Society (WES) Fellow.
Working in close collaboration with Technical and Sport, the group aims to develop and apply best practice across Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG). To catalyse change, the group will bring the best sustainability innovations from the racetrack to the everyday user’s micromobility experience, encouraging more liveable cities across the world.
● Technical
Chaired by Peter Wright, former President of the FIA Safety Commission, Chair of FIA Accident Panel, President of FIA GT and Sportscar Commission. Former Chair of FIA Institute Open and Closed Cockpit Research Groups, Chair of Karting Research Group. Former Technical Director at Team Lotus.
As well as developing and administering the technical regulations for micromobility racing, the group will identify how this new sport can act as an innovation lab, incubating and accelerating socially relevant technology innovation and transfer with which to develop the micromobility sector.
● Medical
Chaired by Dr Paul Trafford, Head of the Medical Committee and Medical Advisor to Motorsport UK. COVID-19 Medical Officer Motorsport UK. FIA Medical Commission UK representative. Medical Advisor to FIA Research Working Group, Medical Director of BTCC. Former Medical Advisor to FIA Institute, chair of Motor Cycle Racing Control Board (MCRCB) Medical Panel, Medical Director for BSB and associated series including World Superbikes and MotoGP in the UK.
Working in close collaboration with Safety, the group will implement a Medical Code for all tiers of micromobility sport, applying and transferring best practice and findings from the medical research programme, to protect competitors and mitigate injury.
Kate Robson is the Commission’s Head of Programmes, leading rider development within micromobility sport for both professional riders at the pinnacle in the eSkootr Championship and at the grassroots. She brings extensive experience in sport development from her experience with the FIA Institute and FIA as well as strong relationships with national sporting federations worldwide.
Advocacy
The micromobility sector is growing exponentially and will be an integral part of the way that people live their lives in urban cities moving forward. eSC is committed to being at the forefront of this innovation and supporting cities in shaping the way that micromobility is implemented, and crucially, how the use of micromobility vehicles and operators within the sector are regulated.
The Commission for Micromobility and Sport will encourage micromobility in all its forms by supporting initiatives which may contribute towards its safe and sustainable social impact and in particular, champion the rights and interests of micromobility vehicle users. It will promote values that will encourage membership collaboration on the basis of the highest levels of social responsibility and environmental best practice.
The Commission will apply evidence-based research and development and multi-stakeholder consultation in the following key areas:
- modal shift – working towards a more sustainable transport network for social, environmental and economic benefit, and associated improvements to infrastructure in urban centres
- engineering – application of world-class engineering expertise to positively influence safety in the interconnected design of vehicles and component systems, urban planning, and digital solutions, technology and data for smart cities
- education – ensuring the safe operation of vehicles, equipment standards and safety training all the way from kick scooters for children through to escooters for adults, as well as educating other vehicle users sharing the infrastructure
- enforcement - addressing the current fragmented regulation around the world to establish a robust legislative framework
One of the first initiatives of the Commission’s public policy mission is its New Mobility Forum, to be held on Friday 13th May as part of the first ever eSkootr Championship race weekend in London. It will bring together the key players in micromobility, transport and sports governance for a high-level debate on the key topics around new mobility, including how public policy can support the development of micromobility and the ways in which sport can help shape the public’s mindset. Speakers are drawn from across the industry, including micromobility operators, city leaders and sporting champions.
Alex Wurz, President of the Commission for Micromobility and Sport, commented:
“This week in London, the inaugural round of the eSkootr Championship will showcase not only a brand-new sport, but a sport that will inspire a new movement for safer, more sustainable and more liveable cities. I’m proud to be a co-founder of eSC, and its Safety Ambassador, and to further demonstrate my belief in its real world relevance to safety, sustainability and technology by bringing together this inspiring group of leaders to promote the safe and sustainable development of micromobility in sport and urban micromobility.”
Further details of the Commission for Micromobility and Sport’s mission and planned initiatives will be announced at the New Mobility Forum and in line with the Commission’s 2022 roadmap.
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