Tag Archive: SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY SOLUTIONS

  1. New parking reform implemented to encourage sustainable mobility in Belgian municipality

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    Source: Fietsberaad

    The City Council of Brasschaat in Belgium enforced a new parking ordinance in late 2023, reflecting a commitment to reducing car dependency and encouraging bicycle use.

    A strategic response to urban challenges

    The Flanders region in Belgium is known for its dispersed urban landscape, which necessitates smart space management. With increasing numbers of apartments and smaller housing units, space has become a valuable commodity. Recognising this, its Decree on Basic Accessibility (transportation policy) encourages investment in shared and combined mobility. The ambitious goal, set out in the Vision Note of the Antwerp Transport Region, aims for a modal split of 50% sustainable transport and 50% car use by 2030.

    In response to this vision, Brasschaat made a pivotal decision in 2020 by no longer prioritising car parking spaces in construction developments, to encourage alternative use of sustainable transport. A new initiative was introduced, of tax obligation for projects that did not meet parking conditions being suspended, provided that developers offered sufficient alternative transport solutions. This progressive approach culminated in the adoption of the new parking regulation at the end of 2023, introducing innovative measures to shift the focus away from car-centric development.

    Key features of the new regulation

    The revised parking ordinance incorporates several significant changes. One of the most notable aspects is the introduction of a minimum number of car parking spaces that will decrease over time. Additionally, the regulation allows for a reduced parking standard when submobility options, such as bike-sharing or public transport incentives, are included in new developments.

    Another major advancement is the inclusion of clear guidelines for bicycle parking, ensuring that bicycles are no longer relegated to secondary status. These principles, aligned to government initiatives, are designed to make bicycle use more convenient and appealing for residents.

    Collaborative development process

    The creation of the new parking regulation was a collaborative effort, involving multiple municipal services, including Space and Housing, Infrastructure, Mobility, Local Tourism, Sports, Education, and Finance. The Municipal Committee for Spatial Planning (GECORO) contributed insights through a dedicated workshop, while the Department of Mobility and Public Works (MOW) and the Province of Antwerp provided valuable advisory support.

    In developing the ordinance, Brasschaat drew inspiration from other local authorities, engaging in discussions with the City of Antwerp to refine the regulation’s implementation.

    Looking ahead: Evaluation and impact

    Although the new parking regulation has been in force only since late 2023, its full impact remains to be seen. The first permits under the updated guidelines have only recently been signed. However, during the drafting process, the proposed standards were tested against real projects to ensure feasibility and compliance. Notably, the bicycle parking standards were already being applied by the Mobility Service, even before receiving formal legal backing.

    As Brasschaat continues its journey toward a more sustainable urban environment, this ambitious regulation stands as a testament to the municipality’s proactive approach to addressing modern mobility challenges.

  2. E-cargo bikes available to borrow for transporting bulky waste in Amsterdam

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    Source: Fietsberaad.nl

    Since October, Amsterdam has been offering its residents electric cargo bikes to deposit their rubbish.

    The bikes are a solution for the 75% of Amsterdam’s citizens who don’t own a car, they can be borrowed for taking old items and rubbish to be recycled at four recycling centers around the city.

    The e-cargo bikes can only be borrowed to transport bulky or garden waste up to 300 kg for a maximum of three hours a day. They are free to use and are insured against all risks. Those wanting to use a cargo bike for this purpose will have to book it in advance online to get instructions from an employee at the recycling point.

    The four recycling centers currently receive around 1-4 requests to borrow a cargo bike per week, with the most popular one situated on Henk Sneevlietweg.

  3. Dott completes refurbishment of 10,000 e-scooters

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    Dott, the responsible micromobility operator, today announces the complete refurbishment of 10,000 of its shared e-scooters. The achievement will double the expected lifespan of those vehicles to seven years, cutting carbon emissions per kilometre by nearly 50%.

    The milestone coincides with the publication of Dott’s latest sustainability report, covering 2022 initiatives. Dott continued to drive down its CO2 emissions in 2022, reaching a total 63% reduction in CO2 emissions per kilometre since 2020.1

    Reducing our impact:

    The refurbishment project removes the need to purchase new vehicles, which has the biggest impact on Dott’s overall carbon footprint. Taking place in Lyon, France and Warsaw, Poland, the scooters are completely dismantled by a dedicated team of specialists, sorted into parts for either recycling, repairing or reusing and then fully renovated and painted. The 10,000 refurbished e-scooters are now supporting trips in Dott cities across Europe.

    Dott also advanced its recycling rate across its operations throughout 2022, sending 90% of all waste to be recycled, compared to 80% in 2021. The figure meets Dott’s 2025 target ahead of time, leading to a renewed, ambitious target of 95% of all waste being recycled in 2023.

    Supporting our teams:

    The launch of Dott’s ‘Ride Your Future’ programme in 2022 provides training to operations and ground teams across software tools, communication, management and organisation skills. Classes take place during paid, working hours, and in 2022 a total of 40 people have been able to develop new skills to further their careers.

    Tackling pollution in cities:

    Dott’s most mature cities now operate under 30 g CO2 per km, a figure which is equivalent to public transport,2 and close to reaching an overall target of 20 grams of CO2 per km ridden by 2025.

    Maxim Romain, Co-Founder and COO, Dott, said: “In 2022 we progressed towards mass adoption of our service, doubling the number of rides whilst continuing to drive down our carbon emissions. We have demonstrated our commitment to sustainability with a major refurbishment programme, fully rebuilding 10,000 e-scooters so far to double their lifespan, eliminating the need to manufacture more vehicles. By focusing on responsible operations we aim to keep generating a positive impact for our teams and the people living in the cities where we operate.”

    The environment and social impact are at the heart of every business decision at Dott. The micromobility company has set out its goals and progress at ridedott.com/sustainability.

  4. Registration opens for Flanders-based no car challenge

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    Source: 30dagenminderwagen

    This June, the Sustainable Mobility Network (Netwerk Duurzame Mobiliteit) invites residents across Belgium to join the 30-day no car challenge

    The scheme highlights four key reasons to get involved and leave the car parked throughout June.

    1. For health: Walking and cycling are great for both physical and mental health
    2. For adventure: Explore a new way of getting around, and discover new areas in your hometown
    3. For your wallet: As fuel prices rise, alternative transport methods are becoming more important
    4. For change: Choose a society with fewer CO2 emissions

    Already, 2,500 individuals have registered their interest in the scheme and will participate in June. Find the registration portal and get involved here.

  5. EEA report on first and last mile

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    The growing use of electric scooters and ride-hailing services is transforming the way we move in urban centres — but walking, cycling and public transport remain the best way to improve sustainable mobility in cities, according to a report by the European Environment Agency (EEA) report.

    EEA’s transport and environment report on ‘The first and last mile — the key to sustainable urban transport’ assesses how green and sustainable ‘first and last mile’ transport options like bicycles, scooters or other means of short distance travel can transform mobility systems in cities. The report also assesses how innovative urban freight and inner-city delivery services, including the use of delivery drones, can make urban freight transport more sustainable.

    Short start or end journeys are an essential part of the daily commute. Bus, rail and metro services often cover the main part of trips to and from work, but people still need to first walk, drive or use another way to get to and from the nearest station or stop. Better first-mile, last-mile or only-mile journeys have the potential to bring down car use — reducing traffic congestion, emissions and improving air quality. Cities can do a lot to facilitate access to public transport systems by creating attractive urban spaces that are well connected to public transport infrastructure and by making walking and cycling to and from hubs and stops easier and more pleasant.

    Shifting to walking, cycling and public transport will be crucial if Europe is to meet its long-term sustainability goals and policy objectives under the European Green Deal proposed by the European Commission in December 2019. Digitalisation and mobility apps can make a good urban mobility system even better, but they cannot compensate for underdeveloped public transport, the report cautions. For green options to have a fair chance to compete with cars, prices also need to reflect the harm done to health and environment.

    Taken together with public transport, walking and cycling for short city journeys provide the greatest benefits for both human health and the environment in urban areas. The introduction and rapid uptake of app-based vehicle sharing schemes can also have benefits, however, the report points to studies which show that their impact on the environment is not always positive. Especially e-scooter sharing schemes appear to attract users that would have otherwise walked or used public transport. While the use of shared e-scooters generates few direct environmental impacts, their green credentials may be questioned due to the substantial negative impacts associated to their materials, their manufacturing and their frequent collection for recharging purposes. Similarly, studies show that ride-hailing apps like Uber or Lyft do little to reduce emissions or congestion and actually draw people away from public transport.

    Find out more about EEA’s article

    Photo by Vinicius Löw on Unsplash

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