Smart mobility and public transport: Opportunities and challenges in rural and urban areas

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Improvement of Rural Mobility in European Regions Affected by Demographic Change

Paper presents some of the specific mid-term results of RUMOBIL project. RUMOBIL is project funded by INTERREG CENTRAL EUROPE program. The main objective of RUMOBIL is to improve public transport in rural areas by better connecting them to the national and European transport networks. Project supports transnational cooperation between eight public authorities from Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Croatia and Italy, and their transport entities. These are confronted with a similar challenge to respond to pressures on regional public transport systems caused by demographic change in peripheral areas. Working together provide them with a platform to exchange knowledge, to generate learning through launching pilot applications of state-of-the art tools and solutions, and to revise their transport policies to better suit changing mobility needs. Quicker and more comfortable access by public transport positively contributes to the quality of life in rural areas and supports business activities there. To that aim, a set of evidence-based policy recommendations will be elaborated at the end of the project to improve the capacities of local and regional decision-makers responsible for the design and coordination of public passenger transport in Central European regions affected by demographic change. These recommendations will be presented in the form of the RUMOBIL Model which provides insights in already proven good practices and novel solutions. Main outputs of RUMOBIL project are pilot actions, the elaboration of a RUMOBIL strategy, and policy-decisions to implement this strategy in the eight partner regions through an improvement of their transport plans. Pilot actions allow testing a number of innovative applications during a period 2017-2018 how sparsely populated peripheral areas can be better linked to a primary, secondary or tertiary transport node (access to European and national passenger transport networks)

The Mobility Divide Index Co-Design for the Accessibility Measurement of Public Transport Systems

Disabled Users and transport operators have been pooled in a research project to design an innovative system that will rate the real usability of public transport services. The paper describes first results of the on-field implementation and development perspectives

Developing the multi-dimensional mobility divide index (MDI) as a methodology to assess the accessibility level of public transport systems

Background: This paper presents the development of a multi-dimensional mobility divide index (MDI) for assessing the accessibility of public transport developed using a co-design approach, directly involving end-users in the index design process. The index measures the gap that persons with disabilities feel they need to over-come to use public transport in the same way non-disabled citizens do. The MDI covers six accessibility-related dimensions: 1) safety, 2) convenience, 3) comfort, 4) affordability, 5) travel time, and 6) autonomy. Methods: The method paper describes the step-by-step approach to create the MDI as a set of indicators to be rated by people with different access needs to 1) provide evidence of the main criticalities to be addressed through the design and implementation of new inclusive mobility solutions, 2) guide the design of new inclusive mobility solutions and measure their impacts, and 3) inform the transport sector encouraging positive changes in transport by providing recommendations for policy-making, new directions for service innovation, improvements and practical advice or highlighting investment priorities to pave the way for a more inclusive mobility. Results: We present our findings in ways that can inform universal design and provide actionable information to researchers, policymakers, transport and urban planners, operators, and stakeholders’ representatives to promote inclusive and equitable mobility solutions for all. Conclusions: Finally, we suggest follow up research and innovation, as well as recommendations for its uptake and utilisation in the pursuit of European accessibility standards and requirements for products and services in the mobility sector

Developing the multi-dimensional mobility divide index (MDI) as a methodology to assess the accessibility level of public transport systems [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]

Background: This paper presents the development of a multi-dimensional mobility divide index (MDI) for assessing the accessibility of public transport developed using a co-design approach, directly involving end-users in the index design process. The index measures the gap that persons with disabilities feel they need to over-come to use public transport in the same way non-disabled citizens do. The MDI covers six accessibility-related dimensions: 1) safety, 2) convenience, 3) comfort, 4) affordability, 5) travel time, and 6) autonomy. Methods: The method paper describes the step-by-step approach to create the MDI as a set of indicators to be rated by people with different access needs to 1) provide evidence of the main criticalities to be addressed through the design and implementation of new inclusive mobility solutions, 2) guide the design of new inclusive mobility solutions and measure their impacts, and 3) inform the transport sector encouraging positive changes in transport by providing recommendations for policy-making, new directions for service innovation, improvements and practical advice or highlighting investment priorities to pave the way for a more inclusive mobility. Results: We present our findings in ways that can inform universal design and provide actionable information to researchers, policymakers, transport and urban planners, operators, and stakeholders’ representatives to promote inclusive and equitable mobility solutions for all. Conclusions: Finally, we suggest follow up research and innovation, as well as recommendations for its uptake and utilisation in the pursuit of European accessibility standards and requirements for products and services in the mobility sector