Seeing Yourself in a Shared Micromobility Role
To complement NABSA’s Building a Better Shared Micromobility Industry: Best Practices for More Diverse and Inclusive Workplaces toolkit and strategy to increase diversity in the shared micromobility workforce at all levels we launched “Workforce Diversity Wednesdays”. This blog and social media series spotlights jobs in shared micromobility throughout the year. We post interviews with individuals in the shared micromobility industry highlighting their work and role with the hopes of encouraging more diversity and representation in the field.
Meet Charolyn Mosley! Charolyn (she/her) is the Community Engagement Manager for Indego with Bicycle Transit Systems in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Learn about Charolyn as she shares her journey to shared micromobility below:
How did you come to arrive at working in shared micromobility and your current role?
I came to this work through being an Indego Champion and a participant in the Wheels to Work program. Being an active rider and advocate taught me a lot – I was happy to promote Indego because of the way it opened the world up for me. I’m from Houston, Texas, so owning a car and spending hours in traffic was all I knew. Commuting took so much time out of my life that I didn’t have energy or interest for exploring or doing much else by car. Moving here and seeing an alternative form of transportation was so exciting to me! I came to this city not knowing my way around, and I didn’t own a car. Indego helped me get grounded and see the city in a way that I would’ve never experienced by car.
Most of what I know about Philadelphia comes from traveling by bike! So, as I immersed in the biking community and attended Indego events, I got to know people form Indego, and the Bicycle Coalition. I always knew I wanted to be part of this somehow, and when I saw the opportunity arise, I jumped at it. My enthusiasm and love for the system paid off by a beautiful turn of events to go from being an ambassador of the system to working as the Community Engagement Manager…I feel very fortunate to now have experience as a rider and a representative of the system.
What is your favorite thing about your job?
I enjoy communicating the benefits of bikeshare to community members; the connection between access to affordable transportation and physical/mental health is something I’m passionate about. This role allows me to bring awareness and offer bikeshare as a balm to many individuals who need safe, reliable transportation, but also a way to engage and support a healthier lifestyle with ease. Bikes can help to foster interconnectedness and encourage bonding within a community….something as simple as a bike ride can help someone improve their health while commuting in a way that’s financially sustainable…I see bikeshare as a layered pathway to overall public and community health. In addition, as Community Engagement Manager, I invite community members to have a seat at the table when it comes to the planning and expansion of our system, assuring them that their voices matter, and the stories, information and opinions they have to share are valuable. Community partners and members are the foundation of this work; there wouldn’t be an equitable system without them and I’m glad that I can work with individuals and organizations to build a system that reflects their input and the demographics of our entire city.
What has surprised you most about your job?
So many people don’t understand bikeshare, what it means for the future of travel, and the climate of their community (especially those navigating gentrification). There’s also still a great number of people who haven’t taken a ride in years, or don’t know how to ride at all – so it’s always a joy to bring awareness to something new that could impact their lives in ways they may not realize. Every community deserves to have access, every individual has the right to have affordable transportation options, and to be able to choose what works for them once properly informed. If I can help someone reconsider the way they travel, and realize how bikeshare is good for them, their community and the environment…this is always a pleasant surprise. Working with the public will always be a new experience; people and communities are ever-changing, but our commitment to building an expansive, equitable system will always be the core and intention of our work.