Systems Approach to Shared Mobility, Accessibility, and Proximity for 15 Minute Cities

15mC concepts emphasise greater proximity of services to reduce the need for private cars and encourage the use of active modes and PT2. However, even in cities with good proximity, active travel and PT networks, there is strong evidence that for many journeys – particularly those where qualities of convenience, care, carrying, and comfort are prioritised, private motor vehicles remain a preferred, and sometimes necessary option with low elasticity of demand. Which journey qualities are most valued also differs across social groups, notably gender due to patriarchal norms around caring, and social safety concerns. It is an inconvenient truth that strong proximity policies have little impact on mode choice for a significant number of journeys because it is not only distance that is being negotiated when cars are
chosen for short journeys. Shared E-Mobility has emerged as an important category to achieve sustainable mobility. Whilst the benefits of shared micro-mobility are well-documented, car sharing also has numerous advantages over private car ownership: alongside environmental, economic and spatial benefits it has social benefit in enabling users to maintain a desired quality of life when making particular journeys. Despite distributional problems regarding access – sharing is dominated by men, those under 35, and the more highly educated - accelerated adoption of car sharing (particularly electric) remains essential to provide viable alternatives to private car ownership, and therefore crucial if 15mC concepts are to resonate with all users. However fragmented provision of car sharing and operational exclusion have limited both our understanding of its potential to achieve significant travel behaviour change, and our ability to convince citizens of its merits – for example due to uncertainty of availability. Combining social science and technical approaches, SASMAP-15mC contributes to scientific knowledge and policy implementation relating to car sharing in partnership with the municipalities of Bristol (UK); Graz (Austria); and Helsingborg (Sweden), and a range of commercial and non-profit organisations. Through three case study living labs (two streets in each city), the project will build an
evidence-base identifying potential and pathways for a step-change in the provision of car (and related forms of) sharing in the 15mC.