Tag Archive: Urban Mobility

  1. Discover the latest ERTRAC Integrated Urban Mobility Roadmap

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    The updated ERTRAC Integrated Urban Mobility Roadmap is now available! Building on the 2017 version, this new roadmap provides a forward-thinking framework to tackle today’s most pressing urban mobility challenges.

    Source: European Commission

    As urban mobility evolves due to technological advances, economic changes and growing environmental concerns, the ERTRAC, ALICE, and ERRAC Urban Mobility Working Group began updating the roadmap in mid-2023. This update outlines a comprehensive vision for optimising urban transport systems and paving the way towards a more sustainable future.

    The 2024 version serves as a crucial guide for identifying key research and innovation opportunities. Drawing on expertise from industry professionals, stakeholders and previous working group publications, it reflects the latest developments in urban mobility, including research projects funded by Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe.

    The roadmap prioritises making urban transport systems more convenient, accessible, affordable and resource-efficient for both passengers and goods. It covers every aspect of the transport network, from users and infrastructure to governance, while addressing connections between urban, peri-urban and rural areas.

    One key focus is balancing growing mobility demands with limited urban space, promoting stronger integration between transport and city planning. The roadmap advocates sustainable solutions, emphasising active transport, public transit and shared mobility. By assessing current trends and future needs, the 2024 version provides a clear path for innovation and research to build a more efficient and sustainable transport system.

    • Read the full updated roadmap here
    • Read more about STREnGth_M here

  2. EIT UM Call for Projects aimed at promoting a competitive & sustainable European Cycling Industry

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    This call results from the European Declaration on Cycling, signed last April. The Declaration emphasises cycling as a strategic priority and describes it as one of the “most sustainable, accessible and inclusive, low-cost and healthy forms of transport“.

    According to EIT Urban Mobility, the growing share of e-bikes has created a wealth of opportunities for new services and business models in the industry, and a need for more digital and battery innovations. Simultaneously, existing services like bike sharing need to be optimised to allow operators to expand services to new consumers.

    Through this call, EIT Urban Mobility aims to fund innovative solutions that promote a competitive and sustainable European
    cycling industry, focusing on three sub-topics:

    • Light means of transport (LMT) batteries
    • New services and business models, and
    • Sustainable local manufacturing.

    Consortia should consist of 2 to 5 partners from at least 2 EU Member States or/and Horizon Europe associated countries. EIT will fund a maximum of 65% of the total project cost, with budgets expected to range between € 300,000 and € 700,000. The total indicative funding allocated for this call is € 1.5 million, which allows for approving 2 to 5 projects. The project should start from 1 January 2025 and run for one year.

    There are 2 mandatory KPI’s:

    • either an innovation needs to be put on the market or a start-up created
    • second KPI is demonstration

    As a result, there has to be at least one commercial partner and one demonstration host, either a city/municipal government or a company. The solution to be piloted should have successfully reached a minimum Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 6.

    Once the project has started, consortium partners are required to become EIT UM members. The lowest annual membership fee is € 5,000.

    This call will close on 15 October at 17.00 CET. The evaluation results will be communicated end of November.

    All further details are here: https://rb.gy/hxgrxc

  3. Company leasing providers have almost quintupled their sales since 2019

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    Company bike leasing has emerged as a significant growth driver for the bicycle sector, according to a study by Deloitte’s Sport Business Group in partnership with the industry association Zukunft Fahrrad. From 2019 to 2023, the total revenue of company bike leasing providers surged from 0.7 billion to 3.2 billion euros, nearly quintupling. This reflects an average annual growth rate of 46 percent.

    Source: RadMarkt

    The study, “The German Company Bike Leasing Market,” surveyed the largest providers using a standardized questionnaire. These companies represent approximately three-quarters of the market. The collected data was then extrapolated to estimate the overall market size based on dealer information.

    The survey revealed that the fleet size of bicycles and e-bikes leased through employers has grown by an average of 45 percent annually since 2019, expanding from 400,000 bikes in 2019 to 1.9 million by the end of 2023. This marks nearly a fivefold increase over five years, with 23,000 bikes newly leased in 2019 and 790,000 in 2023.

    Leasing strengthens brick-and-mortar retail

    Kim Lachmann, Director and bicycle market expert at Deloitte stated “Company bike leasing has now become one of the most relevant market drivers in the bicycle market – especially in the past year, which has been challenging for the industry. High bicycle stocks and a simultaneous slight decline in customer demand due to inflation posed problems for many market participants. However, we continued to see stable growth in company bike leasing – both in terms of volume and price. It is also clear that it is strengthening brick-and-mortar retail in particular. Almost 90 percent of users buy their bikes there.”

    Leased bikes tend to be higher-priced, with about 80 percent being e-bikes and an average price of 3,500 euros in 2023—almost 1,700 euros more than the average price of bikes purchased in the overall market. According to the study’s authors, this price difference is a significant factor in the observed strong sales growth in the bicycle market.

    The study also found that around 37 percent of employees in Germany now have access to company bike leasing. The number of employees eligible for company bike leasing contracts through their employers grew from 5.3 million in 2019 to 16.8 million in 2023.

    Untapped potential

    “The company bike leasing sector has grown immensely in recent years, but the potential is far from being exhausted. On average, around 90 percent of employees at participating employers are not yet leasing. In addition, the number of participating companies is increasing continuously – by an average of 46 percent annually since 2019. Company bike leasing is perceived by employees as an attractive offer,” says Kim Lachmann.

    In 2023, around 204,000 employers offered their employees the opportunity to lease company bikes, up from around 45,000 in 2019.

    Wasilis von Rauch, Managing Director of Zukunft Fahrrad, emphasized the market’s resilience, describing company bike leasing as a billion-dollar market that benefits both employees and companies through health and climate protection advantages. He noted that approximately two-thirds of commuters have a journey suitable for bicycles or e-bikes, often faster and more enjoyable than other modes of transport. Rauch urged policymakers to support this trend by creating conducive framework conditions.

  4. E-bikes are gaining ground in commuting in South Limburg

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    Source: Fietsberaad Crow

    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.

  5. LEVA-EU contributes to ERTRAC’s LEV paper on urban mobility

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    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.

    Learn more about these papers here.

  6. POLIS 24 calls for speakers and sponsors

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    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.

    Interested speakers may submit their abstract here.

  7. New bike taxi service kicks off in Paris

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    Source: The Mayor

    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.

  8. Eurobike announces new visual concept for 2024 show

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    Source: Eurobike

    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.

  9. Urban Mobility Days 2023 wraps in Spain

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    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.

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