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Equal Day 2019

Collaborative mobility versus urban immobility?

The mobility of goods and people has always played an important role in the functioning of modern societies. However, at the same time, it is facing three major challenges: climate change, air pollution, and urban congestion. 

For more than half a century, the car has been by reference the main object of mobility for people. However, there is a growing criticism that it is becoming an inefficient means of transport. Indeed, on average, it presents an occupancy rate of 1.3 persons (but close to 1 person for work-home travel) and an effective utilization rate of only 5 % for the rest of the time, while it is designed for the transportation from 4 to 7 people over hundreds of kilometers at a speed of 150 to 200 km/h.

Has not the time arrived for a collaborative mobility?

Would collaborative mobility be the solution to the challenges of urban mobility? 
This so-called collaborative mobility claims to offer a better environmental, economical, societal and temporal performance. It occurs in different forms: such as object sharing with bicycles or scooters (through a self-service system), car rental between individuals, car sharing, public transport, carpooling and shared taxis. It also occurs through digitalization. 
Are the new generations ready to abandon the individual car, which for a long time has been the symbol of belonging to a wealthy social class and freedom?

Is it legitimate to question the role of public authorities regarding the slow change of urban mobility: Should they take a proactive role or, in the contrary, opt for the laissez-faire? Should they facilitate cooperation between the different actors of urban mobility? 
Should we fear that the derivative products, such as Uber, Dieselgate and Monkeygate are just the tip of the iceberg? In fact, does collaborative mobility challenge the social and economic balances? 

Is the rapid progress of collaborative mobility, that is illustrated by some big names such as Blablacar, Drivy, Cambio, Zipcar, Uber, Caramigo, ... promising for a real change or are they only the signs of a marginal progress that is highly publicized?

We will try to answer these different questions during the workshop on collaborative mobility together with different actors of urban mobility: public authorities, private actors, organisations, etc.

Feel free to participate!

Contact:

Camille de Bueger | camille(at)equalday.eu)
Joachim Lebeer | joachim(at)equalday.eu

Participants