Vélo & Co is an on-demand tricycle service in Brest that helps older people and people with reduced mobility make everyday journeys more easily. Designed for those who are often isolated or dependent on relatives, the service offers a practical and social mobility solution for trips such as grocery shopping, medical appointments, or visiting local services.
Originally focused on leisure trips, the service expanded through the SMALL project to test a more useful door-to-door model for daily needs. The pilot revealed a strong demand: after targeted deployment in the Bellevue district, where major construction works disrupted mobility, the number of trips rose from around 73 in 2023 to 490 in 2024. More than half of these trips took place around the weekly market, showing how valuable the service can be when placed close to people’s routines.
Beyond transport, Vélo & Co helps reduce loneliness and rebuild confidence. For some users, it is the only way to leave home; for others, it makes it possible to combine several errands in one trip and regain a sense of independence. The pilot also showed that relying mainly on volunteers limits the service’s long-term stability. Brest Métropole is therefore exploring how this type of inclusive, local mobility offer could evolve into a more permanent public service solution.
The metropole is now exploring ways to integrate the service in its public transport operations to secure its long-term future and scaling.
If you’re curious to see how the service works for some of the end-users, then have a look at this user interview: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DSxkehnkxnn/
