Shared bikes are tested to and from two major hospitals in two different municipalities in the Capital Region of Denmark. The aim is to reduce the number of private car trips and increase the accessibility to the hospitals, targeting patients, visitors and hospital employees, but especially elderly people.
To do so, the local team has carried out a co-creation process to engage with various end-users (elderly people, wheelchair users, etc.) to gain knowledge about the diverse needs that exist related to mobility. The learnings are that shared mobility can be for more people than it is today. The inclusive shared solutions will not be a part of the shared schemes we know today (e.g. free-floating regular bikes). The market for shared mobility will not develop in this direction unless it is prioritized by municipalities and regions (providing new types of vehicles and services for people with reduced mobility is not a priority nor a strategic orientation of shared mobility providers).
There is a lot of work needed to make sure the authorities are aware, and will prioritize planning, for a broader range of needs.
With this pilot, we have managed to raise awareness about inclusivity and diverse needs in (shared) mobility, both in our own organisation, in municipalities, and among shared mobility providers.
You can find more information about the co-creation process of the Capital Region of Denmark in this blog article: https://www.interregnorthsea.eu/small/news/talking-shared-mobility-with-elderly-people
