Insights: SMAPE discussion at Shared Mobility Rocks
At the recent edition of Shared Mobility Rocks, experts from across Europe gathered to share insights and discuss the future of shared mobility. Within this event, SMAPE had the chance to organize a session. This featured a diverse panel of speakers from various organizations and regions from all over Europe, each presenting unique approaches and strategies to enhance shared mobility in their regions.
SMAPE project coordinator from the city of Bremen, Fabian Kriete, discussed the importance of the project, emphasizing it as a policy innovation network aiming to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange across Europe. The goal is to revise, innovate, or create new policy instruments in the realm of shared mobility. As a moderator, he introduced the panel showing the diversity and the emphasis on female representation in the panel, underscoring the commitment to diversity and innovation in shared mobility policies.
Panel Discussions
One of the key discussions was led by the expert Antonia Charlton from CoMoUK, who emphasized the importance of shared transport across the UK. The organization's efforts are focused on promoting the development of shared bikes, cars, and rides, alongside the implementation of mobility hubs to foster a culture of sharing and collaboration. She stressed the integration of shared mobility into public transport systems as crucial for success.
From Austria Tech, Ivana Serafimovic introduced Austria's national sharing mobility strategy. The strategy aims to reduce car dependency by conserving resources and tailoring offerings to meet diverse mobility needs. Highlighting the importance of safe frameworks and the integration of sharing solutions, Ivana presented Austria's commitment to building a cohesive ecosystem for sharing, ensuring better coordination and accessibility of sharing services.
Vasiliki Amprasi, project partner representing the University of West Attica, shared insights into the unique challenges and opportunities in the North Aegean region of Greece, characterized by its island geography and seasonal demand fluctuations. Focusing on leveraging local scales for shared mobility initiatives, Vasia mentioned successful examples like Astypalea Island, demonstrating the impact of holistic planning and public participation in achieving mobility transformation.
Ananda Groag, from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management in the Netherlands, discussed the "Natuurlijk! Deelmobiliteit" program, aimed at making shared mobility accessible to everyone in the Netherlands. The program encourages collaboration among municipalities, regions, and market players to standardize data sharing, improve signage, and facilitate one-way trips. Ananda highlighted the significance of a common identity for mobility hubs to ensure user-friendliness and the importance of robust shared mobility systems integrated into wider transport policies.
Each speaker brought unique perspectives and solutions to the challenges of implementing and scaling shared mobility across different contexts, from urban to rural and island regions. The emphasis was on collaboration, innovation, and the need to integrate shared mobility seamlessly into existing transport systems to achieve sustainability goals and improve public accessibility. The SMAPE session underscored the collective efforts and innovative strategies being employed across Europe to advance shared mobility.
Watch now the complete session online