From local dialogue to European exchange: SMAPE in Wallonia

Following an active local stakeholder workshop on the future of car sharing in Wallonia with more than 80 people, the Walloon Public Transport Authority hosted the 5th SMAPE project meeting in the city of Namur. Partners came together to exchange experiences, explore local innovations, and advance their shared mission of improving mobility policies by approaching their cases with the visit of Belgian experts.

The meeting kicked off with a Poster Session, where each partner presented the current state of their adapted policy instruments. While approaches varied, several common threads emerged. Many authorities are working on new strategic roadmaps and defining priorities for shared mobility—often in close collaboration with public transport authorities and national agencies. Others are advancing legal frameworks and permit systems for e-scooters and free-floating services, or rolling out new infrastructure like bike-sharing systems and mobility hubs. A number of partners are also updating their SUMPs (Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans), either at the regional or national level, to better integrate shared mobility and address rural connectivity, seasonal variations, and stakeholder coordination. This was also the perfect occasion to explain the new bike sharing system that has been released on April 1 by the City of Bremen, our lead partner. Despite differing local contexts, all are facing similar questions: How to ensure integration with public transport? How to finance and regulate services? And how to shape inclusive, user-friendly systems?

Participants then headed out for a study visit organized by local expert Noël Renson, exploring Namur’s mobility hubs and multimodal strategy firsthand. Stops included Cambio car sharing stations, where they met with local managers, a discussion with the City of Namur’s mobility managers and a visit with Blue-bike representatives to discuss the role of bike sharing and the cycling industry in promoting social economy and inclusion with Pro Velo.

Watch the video of the study visit 

The following day was dedicated to a series of interactive workshops, enriched by the insights of two guest experts. Angelo Meuleman, an international specialist in shared mobility, shared strategies for delivering inclusive, effective services in rural areas. Ewout Depauw, mobility coordinator at the Belgian interprovincial entity SOLVA, presented how he manages and scales shared mobility systems across multiple municipalities, offering a practical lens on coordination and governance.

Participants then broke into three groups for deeper discussions. The Walkers focused on designing inclusive bike-sharing systems integrated with public transport; the Joggers tackled diverse mobility needs in rural settings; and the Runners worked on identifying optimal locations for shared mobility hubs across different contexts.

The Namur meeting highlighted the value of hands-on learning and peer exchange with several workshops that left partners with inspiring and supporting input for their policies and eager to join and keep working for the next summer academy taking place in June in Mytilene, Greece.