Mix your Mode! A great Exchange of Experience in Cork!
The 5° EMBRACER Exchange of Experience (EoE) event was organized by The Environmental Forum, from April 8th to 10th in Cork, Ireland. On October 8th, the event commenced with a walking tour of the historic core of Cork City, open to the public. EMBRACER partners, stakeholders, and members of the public were welcomed by Dr. Darren McAdam-O'Connell, the Transport and Mobility Forum Coordinator, which attracted 35 participants. On October 9th, 50 participants were present and welcomed by Cork’s Lord Mayor Dan Boyle, who gave the opening remarks, by The Environmental Forum’s Coordinator Bernadette Connolly and by the Transport and Mobility Forum Coordinator Dr. Darren McAdam-O'Connell.
Following that, the thematic session titled “Mix Your Mode: Connecting Informal Modes, Active Travel, & Last Mile with Public Transport”:
Tony Lynch, Cork City Council, outlined the Cork City Development Plan, which aims to create an accessible and integrated transport network for sustainable growth in the Cork Metropolitan Area. Sorina Mihai, BOLT Romania, explored the impact of shared mobility on the global urban landscape, addressing key challenges and highlighting how ride-hailing can serve as a complement to existing city infrastructure. Alessandro Bordigoni, Metropolitan City of Cagliari, presented the city plans for enhancing Sharing Mobility through an integrated Car Sharing and Bike Sharing System, also to face tourism mobility and the related challenges.Paola Bellocchio from Bicincittà Italia introduced BikeMet, a bike-sharing service in Cagliari that promotes sustainable mobility. Alessandro Ena of ITS Città Metropolitana, explained how they are supportingthe strategic development of the Metropolitan City of Cagliari, from traffic lights to monitoring systems to cameras. Rui Velasco Institute for Mobility and Transport, shared good practices for improving mobility through more advance ticketing systems, infrastructure continuity at borders thanks to MaaS, harmonization of SUMP implementation, cycling promotion just to mention a few. Nihat Biševac, the Mayor of Novi Pazar, illustrated how the city is paving the way for a mobility evolution, starting from smarter streets and infrastructures with the final aim to allow people to walk more and cycle more. Fredericke Weiner, Aufbauwerk Region Leipzig, told how people were reclaiming the streets for walking and cycling. Therefore the city of Leipzig created a car-free inner city ring, offering a completely new way to live the public spaces.
A 2° study visit followed, focused on linking active travel and rail in Midleton. Participants walked/cycled to Kent Station, explored the Midleton-Youghal Greenway, and then returned to the city by train.
On October 10th, the Capacity Building Workshop started with over 30 participants:
Darren McAdam-O'Connell, Transport & Mobility Forum, along with EMBRACER partners/stakeholders, took part in the Policy Learning Platform webinar "What’s the Right Tool for the Right Job: E-bikes or E-cars?", highlighting the need to promote meso-mobility. Ali Sarang, TTS Italia/inBlenda, discussed how data-driven mobility is helping to shape a sustainable future for all Regions, sharing the experience of the EU GEMINI project. Ukrainian representatives joined online, sharing their current challenges on mobility issues. Heikki Liimaitainen, TAMK, shared the results of a research in Finland showing that MaaS must be cost-competitive, as willingness to pay is low compared to current mobility costs. Alexandru Gabriel Vasiliu, E-mobility Rentals, presented the next Generation of Swap Ecosystem for Electric Delivery Fleets as a Service. Benas Mazeika, JUDU, shared insights from Vilnius’ EMBRACER pilot, showing autonomous vehicles work even in heavy traffic, and highlighting the need for clear planning and integration with MaaS and public transport. Tadeja Horvat, Sinergija, presented an overview of how the city of Ljutomer is working for the creation of a soft mobility area in the centre town. The Steering Group meeting followed: the EMBRACER Lead Partner and the Communication Manager focused on the results achieved and next steps.
The day concluded with a 3° study visit on linking active travel and bus services in Mahon and Grange. EMBRACER partners explored two areas just outside Cork City Centre, where recent developments have significantly enhanced transport access and local quality of life.
This new EMBRACER EoE offered a rich mix of shared knowledge, lively discussions, and hands-on learning. It was an inspiring opportunity to bring together partners and stakeholders from across Europe, fostering interregional cooperation and exploring innovative approaches to sustainable mobility. The event successfully created a space for meaningful exchange and collaboration, strengthening connections and generating new ideas for future action.
Watch the wrap up video! and Watch the interview to one of the EMBRACER stakeholder!