Micromobility refers to a mode of transportation that occurs through very light vehicles such as electric scooters, electric skateboards, shared bicycles and assisted bicycles such as bicilec/pedelec.

Although there is no universal definition of micromobility, the ITPD defines micromobility vehicles as those with human or electric propulsion that can be shared or private and of low speed (up to 25 km/h) or sometimes moderate (up to 45 km/h).[1] Other definitions are based on a gross vehicle mass of up to 500 kg.[2] Some additional conditions include the provision of an engine, the primary use of the vehicle and its availability to operate as a shared service.

This term evokes a transition similar to that which occurred with the rise of the microcomputer, since the miniaturization of means of transportation for short distances can be seen as a parallel to the miniaturization of electronic components and microcomputers for personal use. The term was coined by entrepreneur and technology analyst Horace Dediu, specifically when giving a speech in 2017 during the Micromobility Assembly at the "Techfestival", an annual event in Copenhagen.[3]​.

Practical implementations of micromobility emerged in the late 2010s as a solution to the so-called “last mile” of personal transportation, particularly high-density urban areas. Instead of using existing means, a user would use a shared micromobility network to be able to travel distances usually less than a mile. The first services implemented specified locations, or stations, where vehicles were to be picked up and delivered, but a second generation of shared services used dockless models in which vehicles can be dropped off anywhere or within a specific geofence. Micromobility has been instrumental in what is known as automobile “unbundling,” or the availability of shared personal vehicles designed for short trips.

Although these vehicles have been for sale to users for a long time, the unprecedented growth of these practices has been a product of the outsourcing of the service, which in turn allows users to use the nearest micromobility vehicle without needing to purchase it, carry it with them, or insure it when not in use.[4]​ This growth has reduced the use of personal cars and, together with financial opportunities, has led to multinational automobile companies—such as Ford and GM—a invest in a variety of micromobility services.[5]​.