Overview
Worldwide and in Norway, cities face challenges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, air and noise pollution, while increasing the accessibility and liveability of residential, work and living environments to all citizens. Car and bike sharing could provide solutions to these challenges, thanks to optimised use of vehicles, space, energy, financial and material resources, as well as potential benefits for social inclusion. However, while shared mobility is rapidly increasing and political support is shifting in its favour (in Norway and abroad), publically funded scientific research into this phenomenon is still in its infancy.
The primary objective of the project is to develop a comprehensive interdisciplinary understanding of the conditions that support the upscaling of shared urban mobility and define its environmental, social and economic sustainability. Hereto, first, from a user perspective we analyse who uses car/bike sharing, why and how this affects their daily mobility patterns and subsequent CO2-emissions. Second, from a supplier perspective we envisage which organisations and business models could provide sustainable upscaling of shared mobility. And third, from a policy perspective we examine policy change/innovation, and how to define a policy mix that best supports the sustainable upscaling of car and bike sharing.
Anticipated Norwegian insights will be contrasted with findings from the Netherlands. The consortium consists of an interdisciplinary group of Norwegian and Dutch researchers, as well as a user group of societal stakeholders. Knowledge is communicated via scientific publications, reports and interactive national and international stakeholder workshops, and is expected to support policy innovations and increase the innovative potential amongst shared mobility suppliers.