Fraunhofer ISI: Shared Mobility, Enhanced Quality of Life

The Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI has presented recommendations on "Shared Mobility" aimed at showcasing the opportunities and advantages of integrating shared mobility services into urban transportation. According to the study authors, this includes car, bike, and e-scooter sharing, as well as ride-pooling, which involves bundling individual trips into one vehicle. Konstantin Krauß, who coordinated the preparation of current research findings for municipalities at Fraunhofer ISI, emphasizes the great flexibility of these mobility forms.

"For example, a bike-sharing fleet can be relatively easily relocated to relieve public transportation after events or during pandemic times. On the demand side, these services allow users to get the vehicle that suits them at that moment through an app – from e-scooters for short visits to friends to small transporters for moving," Krauß promotes.

The guide, developed as part of the "Profile Region Mobility Systems Karlsruhe," summarizes many insights from this network and addresses both the challenges for municipalities and possible solutions.

Attractive Cities Need Integrated Mobility Systems

One of the biggest challenges for municipalities is environmental and climate protection, the authors state. To achieve greenhouse gas reduction targets and comply with pollutant and noise limits, managing motorized individual transport is considered crucial. Here, factors such as capacity and land use come into play. Infrastructures are often designed for peak hours of commuter traffic and are underutilized at other times of the day. Additionally, since many parking spaces are required, designable areas are lost, which are important for the quality of life and attractiveness of cities.

"For example, if comprehensive car-sharing reduces the number of private cars, streets and parking spaces become available for other modes of transport such as bicycles – or even for other uses, such as green spaces," the authors suggest.

Shared Services Enhance Public Transportation

Even before the pandemic, public transport (ÖPNV) was in a difficult financial situation, which has been compounded by the decline in users due to Covid-19, according to the analysis. Shared services could make public transport more attractive. This is particularly true in suburban or rural areas and in city areas away from main ÖPNV routes. Smaller vehicles like e-scooters and bicycles can bridge the first and last kilometers, significantly reducing access and departure times, the ISI scientists believe. If such shared mobility services are developed and offered in cooperation with public transport, it could also resolve the often-mentioned conflict between promoting innovation and protecting traditional public transport.

"An integration of public transport and shared mobility services can also lead to financial relief for municipalities if, for example, on-demand ride-pooling supplements the often unprofitable off-peak hours of public transport," says Dr. Claus Doll, who leads the research on the profile region at Fraunhofer ISI.

Planned: No Aimless Approval of Shared Mobility

The authors of the guide emphasize that goal-oriented planning and regulation are necessary for integrating shared mobility services, as aimless approval can increase the number of person and vehicle kilometers, thereby increasing CO2 emissions. To prevent this, municipalities must first clearly define their objectives when implementing new mobility concepts: "Where and when should the mobility system provide which services, whom should it reach, which emissions are allowed, which means of transport are preferred, what access times are acceptable?" the scientists formulate.

Locally Adaptable Mix of Transport Modes

As different means of transport have different effects, the selection and combination of approved services vary depending on local objectives. It is important to consider and jointly design the interfaces in the concepts, for example through clever digitization on a common platform. This can contribute to aligning future mobility with users' needs – which is essential for the success of the mobility transition.