Niche Market for Long-Distance Micromobility Tourism and Infrastructure.
The conversation around a national, solar-powered e-bike and micromobility corridor shows a rising interest in alternative, sustainable long-distance travel. While the full concept is ambitious, it highlights a market gap for products and services that cater to this emerging form of tourism. Business opportunities include:
- Creating touring-specific e-bikes and accessories, like longer battery life, cargo capacity, and all-weather gear.
- Setting up a network of 'micromobility-friendly' rest stops, hotels, or campsites with secure charging, repair stations, and gear rentals.
- Developing route-planning software that highlights safe, low-speed paths and essential services, much like what's available for RVs or hikers.
- Promoting existing trail-side businesses to this new demographic of 'slow-speed' travelers.
Origin Reddit Post
r/futurology
Operation NTB—A “Slow-Speed Interstate” for e-bikes, micromobility carts & tiny-home hubs: a national, solar-powered mobility grid by 2035?
Posted by u/SomeIce2441•07/05/2025
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The Moonshot
National Trail Backbone (NTB) proposes a U.S.-wide, ~15 mph corridor that parallels the existing Interstate spine—but bans cars.
Think 21st-century Roman road system built
Top Comments
u/Objective_Carpet9183
Drive through Nebraska. Eastern Colorado. Texas. 15mph is not useful
u/j--__
this would be a ridiculous waste of money for significant chunks of the interstate system, where cars drive hundreds of miles thru inhospitable terrain. this is certainly plausible for signif
u/SomeIce2441
Just imagine if a trail grid like this began, and it allowed a lot of these inhospitable areas to slowly become hospitable by micro communities along the way. These could be self-sustaining c