An annual measurement by Zuid Limburg Bereikbaar shows an increase in the number of people using e-bikes and speed pedelecs for commuting between 2022 and 2023.
The Clustered Effect Measurement 2023 asked more than 8,000 respondents, employed at Zuid-Limburg Bereikbaar (ZLB) and participants in the ZLB panel, about their commuting and work from home habits.
The results showed that in 2023, almost 30% of commuting trips in South Limburg were made by bicycle, e-bike, or speed pedelec. The percentage of trips commuted by bicycle was higher for those working at ZLB than the general population for the region. Maastricht has the largest share of the modal split for bikes and e-bikes. The share of commuting bike rides from Maastricht as a place of residency is 60% and 37% as a work area.
The share of e-bikes and speed pedelecs in the modal split for commuting has increased from 9% to 14% between 2022 to 2023. These changes indicate a clear switch from car to electric bike for people’s commutes. In 2023 trips up to 15km were made more often by e-bike and less often by car, however there is still potential to increase cycling for this distance. One of the recommendations is to continue the #posifiets campaign, as this appears to have made a significant contribution to reducing the number of car journeys.
Comments Off on LEVA-EU contributes to ERTRAC’s LEV paper on urban mobility
The European Road Transport Research Advisory Council (ERTRAC) has announced the release of two urban mobility papers that give interesting insights on LEVs and the 15 Minute City concept.
LEVs in urban mobility
ERTRAC’s work dives into the Light Electric Vehicle (LEV) world, focusing on the challenges and opportunities that arise from its integration into urban mobility. The paper provides an extensive snapshot of ongoing conversations within its community (which includes LEVA-EU) and advises on infrastructure requirements, safety protocols, environmental issues, and research priorities for the future.
Urban mobility and the 15 Minute City concept
This paper looks at this concept that revolves around city residents being able to access all their lifestyle essentials at distances that take them no longer than 15 minutes by bicycle or foot. It delivers insights and future routes for urban mobility, with real-world examples, and outlines how the 15 Minute Concept can potentially be achieved.
Comments Off on POLIS 24 calls for speakers and sponsors
Billed as Europe’s leading sustainable urban mobility event, the conference provides an opportunity for cities and regions and other stakeholders to showcase their transport achievements
POLIS, the leading European network of cities and regions dedicated to advancing innovative technologies and policies for local transport, has issued a call for dynamic speakers and sponsors to participate in the Annual POLIS Conference 2024. Scheduled for November 27 and 28, the event will take place in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, and will focus on fostering innovation and celebrating achievements in the realm of urban mobility.
The Call for Speakers is officially open, welcoming submissions until April 26, 2024. With a spotlight on 43 diverse priority topics related to urban mobility, the conference invites speakers to share insights, results, and lessons learned from their mobility initiatives. From technical parallel sessions to interactive workshops and discussions, the platform aims to explore and showcase innovative solutions within each chosen topic.
Abstract submissions must emphasize the innovative dimension of proposed solutions within the selected topic. Successful speakers will be notified in June 2024, just ahead of the release of the draft Conference program and the commencement of registrations.
In addition to the Call for Speakers, POLIS encourages companies, organizations, and initiatives to enhance their visibility through 13 available Sponsorship and Exhibition packages. The Call for Sponsors and Exhibitors is now open, and interested parties can download the Sponsorship form to apply. For customized sponsorship and exhibition packages, individuals can contact Alexia Collignon at acollignon@polisnetwork.eu and Julie Lucca at jlucca@polisnetwork.eu.
The conference offers a platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange among European local and regional authorities, industry players, research centres, universities, and NGOs. Since its establishment in 1989, POLIS has been a driving force in promoting sustainable mobility by deploying innovative transport solutions. The network facilitates partnerships and collaboration throughout Europe, aiding its members in accessing European research and innovation funding and results.
From the 23rd of February, a fresh mode of transportation became available for hire on the streets of Paris. Dubbed Heetch Bike, this innovative service introduces a taxi alternative where a cyclist chauffeurs a passenger cabin. Initially, its operations are confined to weekends. Heetch Bike itself is distinct from conventional car cabs and the trending tuk-tuks, which have recently gained favour among tourists in the French capital.
Heetch Bike aims to assuage concerns surrounding the viability of this type of transport hire with its ambitious proposition: “Our promise is travel within Paris 40% faster and 20% cheaper than VTC,” as quoted by 20Minutes. VTC is the French term for cab services operating beyond the traditional taxi licensure sphere, encompassing various hired transport services with drivers, such as Uber. Heetch Bike aims to capitalize on the surging popularity of bicycles in Paris and the decreasing role of private cars.
According to Actu Paris, the company’s assertion of faster service than cabs is predicated on the anticipation of Limited Traffic Zone (ZTLs) implementation in the city centre later this year, which will curtail and confine car traffic in the area. This presents a prime opportunity for sustainable mobility alternatives like bicycles to take over the streets as a swifter means of navigating downtown Paris.
For those concerned about the comfort level of bike taxis compared to cars, Heetch Bike assures that their cabins feature heated bench seats, protective windshields, and a glass roof. Therefore, passengers are guaranteed a comfortable journey regardless of atmospheric conditions.
Eurobike’s latest visionary shines a new light on the latest in bicycle and urban mobility ranges
Eurobike, a leading global trade event for the bicycle and future mobility sector has revealed a new visual look. Its main motif represents Eurobike’s desire to represent all bicycle and urban mobility ranges.
From July 3 to 7, 2024, Messe Frankfurt will once again become a major stage for the latest trends, a knowledge platform as well as a networking forum for new mobility, with the bicycle remaining as its strongest driving factor. The agency Baschnegger Ammann Partner recently completed this designed poster for Eurobike.
The new visual design’s essence is based on the simple and innovative basic principle of the bicycle and its modern “relatives” – the wheel, reducing the (bicycle) wheel to its underlying circular shape. For this design, Eurobike claims the combination of different circular parts and a signal-like color palette covers all segments of the bicycle world and future mobility.
Eurobike deems the new visual as “inspirationally colorful, self-confidently striking and pleasantly cheerful”. It builds on its well-known magenta and yellow brand colors for Eurobike, and adds a new color to the mix, cyan. It introduces this new color as a way to create more room to visually represent industry frontline topics, and for Eurobike to evolve as its own brand. The fair platform also confirms that this imagery can be used in all formats and displayed across all channels.
Andreas Kleinekathöfer, Creative Director and Partner at Baschnegger Ammann Partner explains the creative aspiration behind the visual, “Our aim was to develop a new key visual for Eurobike that was as visionary as it was coherent and derived from its DNA,”. Eurobike project manager Dirk Heidrich added: “The new visualization of our umbrella brand reflects all segments of our industry and their further development. It conveys the intention of the Eurobike platform to create an effective space for all key players to meet the environmental, economic and social challenges of mobility.”
About Eurobike
Eurobike is the central platform of the cycling and future mobility universe. Together with visionaries from politics, business, society and the mobility industry, it creates space for communication, new ideas, change of perspective, and strong partnerships for innovative mobility solutions and new business models. With Eurobike, the booming and rapidly changing bicycle and future mobility industries have found a common platform. It sets new standards and identifies key topics in the areas of sports, leisure, health and mobility, makes continuous progress and brings the global community together live. The 32nd Eurobike will take place on the grounds of Messe Frankfurt from Wednesday, July 3 to Sunday, July 7, 2024. For more information, go to: www.eurobike.com
About fairnamic GmbH:
With the founding of fairnamic GmbH, the trade fair companies Frankfurt and Friedrichshafen are sealing a partnership focusing on innovative mobility. The market position in the future markets of bicycles, e-bikes, micromobility and general aviation is strengthened by pooling expertise and market knowledge, global positioning, brand strength and speed. The joint venture focuses on the Eurobike and AERO brands and their satellites. The objective is to expand and further develop the two flagship trade fairs. For more information, go to: www.fairnamic.com.
Comments Off on Urban Mobility Days 2023 wraps in Spain
Annick Roetynck, LEVA-EU Manager, visited the three-day conference to engage with attendees and topics in the mobility sector.
The Urban Mobility Days 2023 conference, held in Seville, Spain, was organized by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Mobility & Transport (DG MOVE), in collaboration with the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU. This significant event attracted over 800 participants from various parts of Europe and beyond, with both in-person and remote attendance options. The conference served as a platform for the exchange of ideas, insights, and innovations in the realm of sustainable urban mobility.
Key topics discussed during the event included the establishment of a common European mobility data space, strategies for facilitating a Just Transition, and methods for integrating shared-mobility solutions into the urban mobility landscape. Given that 2023 was designated as the European Year of Skills, the conference also placed a special emphasis on developing and honing transport-related skills.
Attendees were encouraged to engage with the panel sessions and explore the exhibition, with the hope of gaining inspiration for the promotion of sustainable mobility practices within their respective communities. The conference made recordings and materials available for those unable to attend in real-time, providing a valuable resource for all interested parties to access and review. Photos from the event were also made accessible for further reference.
Urban Mobility Observatory, Eltis, has recently added a Polish-language version of its Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) (2nd edition). Global interest in developing and implementing a SUMP has increased following the publication of its Guidelines and Summaries. Local settings, governance, and transport conditions in cities around the world have all been considered as principles in the plan.
In order to make the Guidelines for developing and implementing a SUMP (2nd edition) easier to use and more widespread, the interactive summary has been translated into 16 different languages to include Polish. The 10-page summary translates as an accessible user guide for governing figures wishing to utilise the SUMP Guidelines (2nd edition).
The summary goes some way to explain the foundations of SUMP; its principles, planning processes and the four SUMP phases are all shared. Those accessing the summary are additionally given an insight into the benefits of SUMP and guidance on how to start the plan. In addition, it can also be used as an introduction to urban mobility planning.
The original SUMP Summary for decision-makers can be downloaded in English here. All current and future translations are available on the translation page here.
Sustainable living in urban areas is high on the agenda around the world. EIT Urban Mobility has recognised this and is campaigning with local innovators who are developing solutions to the climate emergency. Concurrently, the quality of our city lifestyles and European mobility will be improved.
EIT’s Innovation Programme for 2023- 2025 is based upon the support that they have been providing throughout Europe since 2020 to strengthen our ecosystem. In 2024, the focus will be on three main areas; Sustainable City Logistics, Energy and Mobility, and Future Mobility. EIT welcome any input from others wishing to support their quest to tackle the most difficult barriers to better living and promote urban mobility.
By introducing innovations to the market, it is hoped that city lives will be improved. Challenges will be overcome, and commercial fluency will increase. The EIT Urban Mobility Business Plan 2023 – 2025 has identified three priority areas of mobility challenges, namely:
Sustainable City Logistics Mobility and Energy Future Mobility.
Participation with transport providers is encouraged with an aim to progress pan-European innovations and improve transport services and logistics. EIT also aligns with the objectives of the EU Mission on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities, so any of the 112 cities committed to Net Zero climate neutrality by 2030 should apply. Transport and mobility are long-since recognised as negative climate influencers and this can be changed.
Events-Webinars
From 17th to 20th April, online information sessions will be hosted by EIT Urban Mobility, in which registration and submissions details will be shared alongside the ideas of the innovation quest. To register for the webinar, please visit Innovations Days.
For administration information, the Program Management Office (PMO) can be contacted: pmo@eiturbanmobility.eu Content information and question can be answered by the Innovation Team: innovationcall2024@eiturban
Although NO2 emissions are on the decline, the CREA reports levels above guidelines issued by the World Health Organisation.
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) is commonly released from combustion engine vehicles, amongst other sources. When inhaled, the gas can have harmful impacts on the individual – new research has shown concentrations of NO2 to be exceeding WHO limits in all EU27 and UK capital cities.
In 2020, the road transportation sector was the main source of NO2 emissions, contributing approximately 37%. In urban areas, theses emissions have the largest impact, with additional traffic and dense populations multiplying human exposure to pollutants.
Erika Uusivuori, Europe Analyst at The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) and co-author of the briefing shared, “This week, the European Parliament has approved the 2035 ban on sales of new fossil fuel cars. However, NO2 concentration levels and the resulting health impacts in European cities remain too high,”
“Lawmakers need to find more solutions to reduce transport-related emissions, and other highly emitting sources, such as power generation, need to be addressed immediately, too,” she added.
The capital cities with the lowest levels of NO2 pollution were Tallinn (Estonia) and Stockholm (Sweden), while Athens (Greece) and Bucharest (Romania) were the worst emitters.
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