Mobility refers to how we move and stay connected, yes. But mobility is not just about getting from one place to another; it is about being able to do so safely, efficiently and comfortably. While cities are competing with each other to be the most attractive – using public marketing and economic facilities – urban mobility has become one of the key criteria in the trendy rankings “The best cities to live in Europe”. The Economist’s Global Liveability Index defined the city’s infrastructure, which includes the quality of its roads, public and alternative transportation, as one of the top five criteria in the selection. This shows the importance that citizens attach to their mobility, having understood that moving towards a more sustainable future means re-thinking how we transport ourselves. To do so, bike-sharing is undoubtedly the vehicle for a sustainable shift from car to bike in metropolitan areas, as demonstrated by a British study in which 55% of bike-share users said that the experience was the catalyst for getting back in the saddle. Cars won’t probably be replaced entirely but bike-oriented investments is one of the solutions for inner cities, together with public transport, especially for commuters or visitors coming from outside of the cities for their first and last mile solution.
The end of car focus policies
For several decades, cars have been the preferred means of transport all over the planet, from the Netherlands to China and Latin America. However, while traveling by car continued to increase during the 1990s, this mode of transport has stagnated or even declined over the past ten years, especially in cities. It is not just a small decline we have seen, in inner cities we have now seen a significant downward trend in using private cars as the preferred method of travel. This analysis is particularly relevant in the most urbanized areas: since the late 2000s, the use of personal cars in city centers has fallen sharply in favor of alternative modes such as greener transportation (bikes), public transport or even car-sharing. Economic and public factors have played a large role in evolving regulations and shifting priorities in urban planning but more importantly, social pressure seen around the world has caused just as big an impact. We have seen the development of car-focused areas into more pedestrian-focused, giving more safe spaces and freedom to people to move around in their cities. Considering these development points, the mobility market is welcoming more players, giving the private car a lower share of the market compared to the past.Shared mobility, the future of transportation
The future of transportation is already here. Car sharing, carpooling, transport on demand: these few examples are only a brief overview of how new urban mobility can be driven by digital technology. Everything is done to promote a model shift. Car sharing has found its place in the shared mobility market in many cities. Accessing instead of owning: that’s the new economy we are entering, largely supported by Gen Z. However, the question of flexibility also arises when we talk about car-pooling offers: many users prefer to keep control of their journey. Car sharing and pooling however do not answer the problems of the critical mass because they require a high density of supply. Citizen participation and community building through happenings, open discussions or exhibitions can help local governments take this diversity of needs into account in their mobility policies and plans, to ensure that they set the right priorities and make mobility safe and accessible for all. In this regard, urban cycling pops as a legitimate option that fits all these criteria.Download the Donkey Republic App
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