Periods of extreme heat are becoming increasingly hard to ignore, with the UK experiencing its fifth heatwave of the year last week. And while it looks like temperatures are finally starting to decline for this season, the bigger question remains: what happens when summers like this become more intense?

Whilst we shouldn't accept extreme heat as "the new normal", we do need to think about how we adapt to a changing climate. Especially, how to make our towns and cities more resilient and liveable places to be.

Part of that means rethinking how we move around them. In the lead up to Car Free Day (22 Sep) We took a look at how micromobility could help us fight and be better equipped for hotter summers. 

The UK's summers are getting warmer

The UK's five warmest summers on record have all occurred since 2003. England experienced its warmest June on record in 2026, with an average temperature of 17.1°C, almost 3°C above the long-term average. 

And while we can’t predict exactly what future summers will bring, the long-term direction is clear. The Met Office estimates there's now around a 50% chance of the UK experiencing 40°C again within the next 12 years.

That's not something we should simply get used to. So, how do we respond?

Making our towns and cities work in the heat

Adapting to hotter summers shouldn’t stop at staying indoors, turning up the air conditioning and waiting for the temperature to drop. We need to think about how we protect trees and green spaces, which help to absorb carbon dioxide whilst providing shade and contributing to cooler streets.

We also need to push for the improvement of public transport, walking and cycling routes. In fact, the way we move is a surprisingly important part of this conversation. Transport was responsible for 30% of the UK's domestic greenhouse gas emissions in 2024, making it the country's largest-emitting sector.

Changing how we travel won't solve climate change on its own. But transport is an area where we can make a tangible difference, particularly when we make it easier for people to choose alternatives to driving.

Where does micromobility fit in?

Pedal bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters won't replace every car journey, but for shorter journeys, they can offer a practical alternative that takes up less space, uses less energy and can help reduce the number of cars on our roads.

We’re already seeing that shift happen among Beryl riders. Our 2025 Rider Report found that 62% of riders use Beryl to replace a journey that would otherwise have been taken by a car, van or taxi. For 41% of riders, Beryl is now their first choice of transport for their most common journeys.

That's important because sustainable transport isn't just about offering people another option. It's about making that option genuinely useful enough that people choose it.

What would a cooler city look like?

Imagine a town where more people can comfortably walk or cycle, with more green spaces and fewer vehicles and less traffic. Less cars, bigger green spaces, safer riding infrastructure, plenty of trees and shade. 

We shouldn’t feel guilty about every car journey we take. Nor should the responsibility for climate change fall on individuals alone, but giving people more choices for making sustainable choices matters.

And our Rider Report suggests having good options can genuinely change behaviour. 38% of Beryl riders reported reducing their use of cars, including 34% who said they drive less often and 4% who had stopped using their car for relevant journeys altogether.

Building for the future

As we move closer towards this Summer, we'll inevitably start to complain that it's too cold again, but the long-term challenge still faces us. We need to both reduce the emissions driving climate change and prepare our towns and cities for hotter summers.

Micromobility won't solve climate change on its own. But making it easier to choose a bike, e-bike or e-scooter for journeys that don't need a car can help reduce traffic, emissions and the space we need to dedicate to vehicles.

The challenge is to make those choices practical, safe and convenient for more people and to build towns where choosing not to drive is a realistic option for the majority.