USDOT/NSF Award #2044026: Shared MicromobIlity for affordabLe-accessIblE houSing (SMILIES)
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded the University of Arkansas funding for SMILIES (Shared MicromobIlity for affordabLe-accessIblE houSing), a community-engaged shared micromobility pilot project in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The project aims to “determine the degree of impact that shared micromobility services can have on accessibility to jobs and essential activities, household transportation costs, and energy consumption for residents of affordable housing communities in small- and mid-sized cities, and rural areas.” Researchers will collaborate with community stakeholders (residents, decision makers, operators) to define acceptable shared micromobility conditions before deploying pilot services based on those conditions.