The city of Varberg has a vision to create a sustainable city for all citizens. This includes sustainable and active ways to move about in and around the city centre. This includes different ways of shared micro mobility as an alternative to cars, and a complement to public transport.
In this context, Varberg has a relatively large and fast-growing elderly population. In the coming years, the number of inhabitants over 75 years of age will increase by more than 30%. The elderly is a group that don’t use shared micro mobility today.
Another important group are persons with physical impairment. Like the elderly, this group does not use the shared micro mobility services provided in Varberg today.
One of the main reasons is that the current bikes available through shared mobility schemes do not meet the needs and capabilities of these target groups.
The pilot project DRIVA is exploring how a shared micro mobility service for these groups could be designed. As part of the project, different adapted vehicles will be made available for shared use in the city.
“The cooperation from the end users is crucial to the success of a sharing system. We need to be open to changing our set up in the co-creation process. We started out with standard cargo bikes and tricycles, and an idea of a free-floating system based on mobile applications. We ended up with a stationary system with lighter bikes and personal assistance.”
