In 1973, economist E.F. Schumacher’s essay collection ‘Small Is Beautiful’ disputed economic beliefs, arguing “today, we suffer from an almost universal idolatry of gigantism. It is therefore necessary to insist on the virtues of smallness—where this applies.”
Today, fifty years after Schumacher’s seminal piece was published, we are still having this argument in society. Galway micro mobility company Brite are challenging the long-held Irish belief that we must own large cars.
Brite are aiming to launch battery powered ebike, emoped and escooter sharing services in every city in Ireland by 2023. Managed by ex Motorpark executive Colin Barry, Brite who welcome impending approval of Powered Personal Transporter legalisation by Minister Hildegarde Naughton’s national Transport department are expecting 2022 to be a big year for the company.
Speaking about their plans, Mr Barry said that the future of transport in Ireland will see a reduction in the number of cars being allowed into our cities and a 30kmph speed limit applied.
“We have to be cognisant that transport accounts for a significant 40% of CO2 emissions, but it is one of the categories that can be attacked quickly. The government’s plans to only allow electric cars to be sold by 2030 is ambitious but we need an alternative to parking and driving these giant pieces of metal whether electric or not.
“Brite’s technology allows us to provide safe transport systems to move you around. In addition to planned improvements to national public transport systems Brite can provide options to users to get directly to work, to shopping areas, home, to universities or to visit friends, safely, efficiently, and most importantly with zero carbon emissions and no sitting in awful traffic queues. Irish cities are not designed for huge cars. Small is beautiful,” he said.
