The SMALL consortium is made up of 12 partners from six different countries in the North Sea Region. Cities, regions, shared mobility providers, research institutes and network organizations, all working together to make shared mobility more accessible, inclusive, and sustainable for all.
Mpact is a Belgian non-profit organisation that simply wants to do more with less by using multiple resources more efficiently. We focus on several fields, but we mainly work on more efficient mobility. In that perspective, we see shared mobility as the catalyst of a transition of our transport system towards more sustainable mobility. In general, Mpact activities are based on three pillars:
- Services: Mpact provides services such as Mobitwin, Cozywheels, Carpool.be, and Holidaysitting.
- Innovation: Mpact is a true believer in staying a step ahead of society by learning, changing, and updating existing solutions, or creating new ones; We call it innovation, but we emphasize the importance of not only technological but also social innovation (changing the mindset that is required for a transition towards more sustainable mobility).
- Policy: Mpact knows that not everyone gets the same opportunity to use existing solutions, so we also work on a policy level to make sure that new solutions like shared mobility are also accessible for poorly served people. Shared mobility increases social cohesion, creates interaction between people, and creates the possibility for less mobile people to be part of the social and mobile fabric.
Within the SMALL project, Mpact is accountable not only as a project partner responsible for several deliverables (such as the expert roundtables, final conference, and deploying two pilot activities) but also as project lead for the overall project coordination.
Contact: Esen Köse - esen.kose@mpact.be - Isaura Lips - Isaura.lips@mpact.be
POLIS is a network of 100 cities and regions for transport innovation (50+ in NSR), accessing local transport professionals looking into the SMALL issues. POLIS has experience and capacity in project communication (strategy as well as tool development), stakeholder outreach and capacity building. POLIS has conducted these activities in projects related to mobility-for-all, and shared mobility in the past in INTERREG as well as in R&D FP project (e.g. INCLUSION, INDIMO, eHUBS, MOBI-MIX, GECKO …). POLIS has an active working group on governance of new mobility services, and accessibility providing access to state of the art experiences in cities, and an understanding of policy drivers and barriers in this field. POLIS has a specific activity on shared mobility data standardization processes, and works with its members and associate members (e.g. OMF, MobilityData) to advance shared digitally supported mobility. The project will benefit from POLIS’ own communication channels/events.
POLIS will support the WP1 activities on co-creation of solutions with people with reduced mobility. It will advise UGhent on methodologies to follow, and can support the demonstration sites with implementing the strategies. POLIS will also organise expert roundtables to feed the project with insights on the digital gap, accessible vehicle strategies and local regulations to enhance accessible shared services. Polis will contribute to the general communication of the project, targeting cities and regions, support the SUMP general helpdesk, the train the trainer webinar series and the MOOC. POLIS will execute an analysis of local regulatory frameworks.
Contact: Daniel Herrera - dherrera@polisnetwork.eu
Rupprecht Consult - Forschung & Beratung GmbH is a fully independent private research and consultancy company based in Cologne, Germany. Since 1996 we have been developing innovative sustainable mobility solutions in collaboration with partners from across Europe and beyond. We are well known for our work on integrated mobility, collective transport and new technology applications as well as people-focused mobility solutions. Our team consists of experienced researchers and advisors on strategic policy development, and we provide high quality services as project developers and managers in diverse environments. In addition, we are proud of our track record on learning and knowledge transfer activities. Our colleagues all have international experience and collectively we speak more than ten languages fluently. We have qualifications in economics, social sciences, geography, spatial planning, environment, technology and public relations. We continually maintain and develop our network through our projects, seeking long-term partnerships that contribute to our vision.
Within SMALL, Rupprecht Consult is responsible for leading and developing the SMALL Observatory and related annual publication. Here, we will collect, analyse and highlight existing shared mobility projects services designed for people with reduced mobility. We are also supporting the SMALL partners in updating their mobility strategies in the context of the SUMP topic guide on shared mobility for people with limited mobility and are in charge of the process evaluation within SMALL. In addition, Rupprecht is the work package leader for WP3, strategy and dissemination.
Contact: Bonnie Fenton - b.fenton@rupprecht-consult.eu
Ghent University is one of Belgium’s leading universities with a strong international profile and a focus on innovation and knowledge transfer. Today, Ghent University attracts around 50,000 students, with a foreign student population of around 6,000. Mobility-related research at Ghent University is clustered in The Network for Sustainable Mobility Research (Instituut voor Duurzame Mobiliteit, IDM), a research consortium that brings together cross-disciplinary and complementary expertise from 14 different research groups. The research group that will take the lead in this project is the Social and Economic Geography (SEG) Research Group of the Department of Geography. This research group focuses on three research pillars: (i) analysis of travel behaviour and city logistics, (ii) urban geography and world city formation, (iii) territorial organisation and spatial planning. The SMALL project has a link to all three pillars.
Within SMALL, Ghent University mainly participates in work package 1 but is also involved to a lesser extent in work packages 2 and 3. Ghent University will create a practical guide to support pilot partners in their engagement process with people with reduced mobility and lead the establishment of quantitative and qualitative methodologies for the evaluation of SMALL pilots, including data collection, analysis, storage and management, and transferability.
Contact: Frank Witlox - Frank.Witlox@UGent.be Maite Dewinter - Maite.Dewinter@UGent.be
The Athena Institute of VU Amsterdam has extensive experience and expertise in researching/investigating, understanding, facilitating, sustaining and upscaling multi stakeholder co-creation processes to address complex societal issues. Shared mobility is one of such issues that require multi stakeholder engagement and co-creation. This project focuses on co-creation and testing of new inclusive shared mobility solutions for PRM. The Athena institute can support the cardinal aim of the project through research targeted towards enriching the project’s engagement and co-creation process through various co-creation tools (e.g., Visualization tools), and developing, implementing and evaluating essential capacity/competencies building training and workshop to relevant stakeholders on co-creation.
Our organization contributes to WP1, particularly in strengthening the co-creation processes between all partners and the targeted end-users and local associations. Our direct contribution would be to conduct research to identify and enrich existing engagement co-creation tools (e.g., visualisation tools) and train the pilot partners and build their competencies on co-creation to apply them at their local and national level.
Contact: Marjolein Zweekhorst - m.b.m.zweekhorst@vu.nl
The Capital Region is a public authority responsible, among other things, for the region's hospitals and regional public transport. The Capital Region of Denmark supports a national reduction of CO2 emissions by 70% by 2030 and has a goal to shift 20% of total trips to cycling or public transport - including carpooling and sharing services by 2035. To reach this goal the Capital Region of Denmark focuses on 5 strategic themes in the Regional Traffic and Mobility Plan to create a coherent, reliable, effective, and green mobility system before 2035, among these themes are Attractive shared mobility and Nodes that create coherence.
The Capital Region of Denmark is responsible for establishing and implementing a pilot where shared mobility solutions are developed and tested in interaction with end users. The pilot will be established between two public train stations and two Hospitals in the Region. The aim is to increase accessibility and mobility for people with reduced mobility. Through co-creative processes, end-user needs will form the basis for the development and adaptation of shared mobility solutions to be tested between the locations.
Contact: Kia Madsen - Kia.madsen@regionh.dk
The Amsterdam region's transport authority works on the optimum accessibility of the Amsterdam region. As the administrator of regional traffic and transport, we also help in ensuring good connections between destinations so people can travel by public transport, bicycle or car quickly, safely and in comfort.
The Vervoerregio has included in its policy framework to ensure an inclusive and accessible mobility system. People with disabilities may be reluctant to travel even though they want to. By providing them with support and information they can break through their mental barrier. Vervorregio Amsterdam's pilot idea consists of providing additional information and functionalities for Dutch travel apps.
Contact: Hannus Kok - h.kok@vervoerregio.nl
De Fietsambassade Gent vzw is an external independent agency of the City of Ghent, also founded by Ghent's higher education institutes: Ghent University, Artelvelde University College, LUCA, KU Leuven, Odisee and HoGent. The agency stimulates and facilitates the use of the bicycle as a sustainable mode of transport in Ghent through a recognizable, qualitative, innovative and a highly accessible service line. This way it promotes the switch to a better and more sustainable mobility in Ghent and enlarges Ghent as the leading bicycle city in Europe. To reach this goal De Fietsambassade works together with all concerned parties and with a maximum commitment of social employment.
De Fietsambassade coordinates the pilot project TriVelo, which is a bicycle taxi service for people with reduced mobility (both temporary and permanent) in Ghent. We ride people who can no longer get to their destination by themselves, by rickshaw or wheelchair bike. These are both functional (shopping, doctor...) and pleasure rides. The fleet consists of 6 tricycles and 1 wheelchair bike. The cyclists are all volunteers, some of them are newcomers to the city (e.g. refugees). Through the pilot activities, we want to learn how to further professionalize. The focus of this project is not to have an efficient taxi service but an effective one. We aim to have a triple impact:
- Counteract isolation of less mobile individuals.
- Lower the integration barriers for newcomers.
- Create connections between different generations, cultures, communities.
We will adjust the service further on during the following years by questioning the target groups, we collect and analyse data and will work out an implementation plan together with the end users.
Contact: Saar Fivez - saar.fivez@stad.gent
Brest metropole is located at the Western tip of France and regroups 8 towns with 213 000 inhabitants. The local authority is part of the metropolitan hub “Pays de Brest”, an employment area of 400 000 inhabitants, representing the 2nd urban area in Brittany.
Thanks to the numerous mobility solutions existing in the territory - 24 bus lines, 7 transport on demand lines, a tramway line, an urban cable car, an electric bike rental and share service, a door-to-door shuttle service for disabled people, and the deployment of a second tramway line and a Bus Rapid Transit service planned for 2026, Brest metropole aims to foster the transition towards a sustainable mobility.
Within the SMALL project, Brest metropole will be one of the pilot cities to deploy and test 2 mobility solutions, which build on digital and social innovation:
- Deployment of a collaborative pedestrian GPS adapted to users with reduced mobility, by avoiding potential obstacles on their itinerary. Each user can report obstacles or accessible locations, which can help people with special needs to find a more adapted route.
- Upscaling the tricycle on-demand service Vélo&Co, which is experimented in the city center of Brest since 2022 by the local association Brest à Pied et à Vélo (Brest by foot and by bike), with the aim to become a more professionally centered mobility service. The service was initiated to complete the transport service for elderly and physically impaired people to allow them to move in an eco-friendlier manner.
Contact: Jacqueline Scheidweiler - Jacqueline.scheidweiler@brest-metropole.fr
Strengthening green mobility practices is part of a more global approach to sustainable development. The CASQ, Mobility Organizing Authority (AOM) since 2017, aims to offer an efficient and inclusive network for all inhabitants of its district. the CASQ has undertaken the elaboration of a bicycle master plan divided into 3 phases including diagnosis, citizen consultations and the adoption of an ecological, inclusive and collaborative cycling plan. In that sense, Saint Quentin is interesting in setting up a shared fleet of bicycles for the pupils of Saint Quentin schools to move across the city. in order to limit the circulation of buses in the city (reduction of costs and greenhouse gas emissions), to encourage physical activity, to raise awareness of road safety (learning to ride a bike, to move in a group). Develop the autonomy of children and teachers in the context of their professional activity. On top of that, it will contribute to create a cycling culture for children.
Within SMALL, Saint Quentin will facilitate the implementation of shared fleet of bicycles for the schools of the city for intramural transportation in order to reduce the number of buses for school and the greenhouse gases generated. Together with trained teachers, children will be able to move to outdoor venues and activities by bike. The team will implement a general public communication of the operation and targeted communication in schools. Saint Quentin will make use of the available methods and tools developed within WP1. In that regard, they will engage in the co-creation process with relevant stakeholders (such as school parents) to better understand the wishes of the end users and plan the pilot. Furthermore, they will participate in WP3 to share the lessons learnt of their project and make use of the SUMP topic guide and expertise within the consortium to review their ongoing mobility strategy (including their bicycle master plan presented above).
Contact: Réginald Ternisien and Amaury Cherchour reginald.ternisien@saint-quentin.fr - amaury.cherchour@casq.fr
The city of Varberg is a municipality with about 68 000 inhabitants located 75 km south of Gothenburg on the Swedish west coast. Varberg is currently going through big changes, with a new train tunnel under the city, a new train station and new areas for housing and businesses. The old city center will be connected to new city areas, and this contributes to big challenges when it comes to building a sustainable and including city, assessable to all (including our target PRM groups, elderly and children). When planning the city, the municipality needs to take into account that the demographics are changing. In Sweden, a new national law has been established – “the Convention on the Rights of the Children”. The law is a guide for the municipalities' practice, with the children's perspective is taken into account. Varberg is trying to contribute to sustainable transition and the new laws when developing the city. Sustainable mobility for all, social inclusion, and security in the public spaces are prioritized. We want to maintain the attractiveness of the city, to make sure that future citizens and businesses choose to stay and grow in the city and region.
The city of Varberg will focus on two pilots in the project, one digital support for micro mobility and 1-3 mobility trials of vehicle services for the target groups. The pilots will support the ongoing work with creating an assessable, sustainable, attractive city centre.
The learnings from the pilots will form the basis for future micro mobility strategies in Varberg including perspectives about how micro mobility can support a more sustainable mobility for PRM groups. These learnings will add value to the overall comprehensive planning for the city of Varberg and hopefully be part of the new SUMP for Varberg.
Contact: Johanna Östheden Andersson johanna.ostheden.andersson@varberg.se
The city of Amsterdam is using the opportunities offered by the digitalisation of mobility to help provide solutions to the issues the city faces. Amsterdam aims to be a city whose residents have control over their own living environment. The municipal government is cooperating with residents and partners to shape a city that is accessible and a pleasant place to live. A city in which there is a better balance of the use of public space, including all the functions for which it is necessary, and ‘living’ space, green space and clean air for everyone. We want to be a city with a good climate for innovation, plentiful employment and good working conditions for employees. We want to be a city with a high level of road safety, with more space for pedestrians and bicycles. We want mobility to be accessible and affordable for everyone. We want privacy to be safeguarded and data to be handled responsibly.
The city of Amsterdam will contribute to WP2 as a pilot partner. We will pilot a new Mobility as a Service (MaaS) application for PRM in order to provide tailored information to the needs of these users (e.g., accessibility of public transport, shared mobility solutions, etc.). Furthermore, we also foresee contributing to WP1 (user engagement) and make use of the methodologies and tools generated to better understand what users need and how our MaaS services should be customised for these needs. Furthermore, we will contribute to WP3 through the lessons learnt with our pilot and will explore how we can apply the topic guide for inclusive shared mobility to our existing mobility strategies, in order to apply SMALL lessons learnt in the long-term planning of our city.
Contact: Marcel Van Lieshout - m.lieshout@amsterdam.nl
