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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number ES/W000547/1
Title COmpeting and COmplementary MObility solutions in urban contexts (CoCoMo)
Status Started
Energy Categories Not Energy Related 95%;
Other Cross-Cutting Technologies or Research(Environmental, social and economic impacts) 5%;
Research Types Basic and strategic applied research 100%
Science and Technology Fields SOCIAL SCIENCES (Town and Country Planning) 25%;
SOCIAL SCIENCES (Politics and International Studies) 50%;
SOCIAL SCIENCES (Sociology) 25%;
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Environmental dimensions) 10%;
Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Policy and regulation) 30%;
Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Consumer attitudes and behaviour) 30%;
Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Technology acceptance) 30%;
Principal Investigator Dr E Heinen

Institute for Transport Studies
University of Leeds
Award Type Standard
Funding Source ESRC
Start Date 01 April 2021
End Date 31 March 2024
Duration 36 months
Total Grant Value £402,251
Industrial Sectors
Region Yorkshire & Humberside
Programme Economic Performance & Environment - Strategic Programme
 
Investigators Principal Investigator Dr E Heinen , Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds (99.999%)
  Other Investigator Dr CA Mullen , Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds (0.001%)
  Industrial Collaborator Project Contact , Leeds City Council (0.000%)
Project Contact , Sustrans (0.000%)
Project Contact , Living Streets (The Pedestrian Association) (0.000%)
Web Site
Objectives Shared micro-mobilities (SMM) (e.g. (e-)bikes, e-scooters, e-mopeds) are at increasing rates entering European cities. These new mobility options open opportunities and at the same time create challenges to cities, with respect to objectives such as sustainability, health and inclusiveness. From a sustainability and health point of view, SMM may substitute car travel by more sustainable modes (e.g. Fearnley, 2020; Policy Forum of the London Cycling Campaign, 2020) and increase public transport use by offering first and last-mile solutions (Chen et al., 2020). However, SMM may also substitute zero/low emission modes such as walking, cycling or mass transit, leading to increased GHG emissions (e.g. De Bortoli and Christoforou, 2020). From an equity point of view, SMM potentially may increase transportation options for those who currently face limited transportation options (Mooney et al, 2019; Fedorowicz et al., 2020). However, in North America and Europe SMM tends to be disproportionately used by younger, highly educated, and white people in city centers, while vulnerable groups in more peripheral areas, that offer less favourable conditions for SMM deployment, profit less from them (Shaheen et al., 2014; Fedorowicz et al., 2020; Bocker et al., 2020). In addition, accumulation of SMM in city centers creates tension with respect to the use of public space by other groups, such as pedestrians and cyclists, potentially with adverse accessibility effects (Milakis et al., 2020; Tice, 2019).European cities therefore need to develop strategies with respect to admission, spatial dispersion and accessibility of SMM, in order to ensure accessibility to all while meeting policy objectives regarding sustainable transportation, equity and inclusion. However, given the recency of the introduction of SMM in European cities, there is a lack of knowledge about the implications of SMM for travel behaviour, sustainability and inclusion, as well as how SMM are best combined with existing transportation options, both in terms of trip organisation and the implementation in public space. COCOMO therefore focuses on the central question: How can shared micro mobilities (SMM) best be combined with existing transport systems and interwoven in existing urban layouts to increase accessibility for all and add to sustainable transportation solutions? In this context, COCOMO aims to provide insights into:1. How SMM are combined with existing travel modes within trips and longer term multimodal travel patterns and what implications this has for sustainability (VMT and emissions);2. How SMM interact with existing forms of transport in public space and how this impacts on the attractiveness and accessibility of these modes;3. How travel implications of (see 1.), and access to SMM (see 2.) differ between geographical contexts and groups defined by socio-economic status, abilities, health status etc., and what impacts this has on equity and inclusion.4. What policies (urban andtransportation planning, regulations) and urban design solutions are needed for a sustainable and inclusive implementation of micro-mobilities.Each of these aims corresponds to a work package in COCOMO (together with work packages on dissemination and project management): see Figure 1. The project will deliver 1) empirical evidence of the use of SMM, its interaction with traditional transportation systems and its implications for sustainability, accessibility and inclusion in three European cities with different levels of uptake and initiatives (Utrecht, Malm and Leeds), 2) an analysis of policy contexts and how they work to promote inclusive and sustainable shared mobility systems, and 3) context dependent guidelines for developing sustainable and inclusive SMM policies that complement traditional transportation systems, based on co-creation with users and stakeholders.
Abstract Shared micro-mobility options are entering European cities, although at different rates. While the first insights about usage patterns, sustainability outcomes and equity effects start to accumulate, there is an emerging need for cities to develop a strategic view on the deployment of these new mobility options: How can shared micro mobility (SMM) options best be combined with existing transport systems to increase accessibility for all and add to sustainable transportation solutions? In this context, COCOMO aims to provide insights into:1. How SMM are combined with existing travel modes within trips and longer term travel patterns and what implications this has for sustainability (VMT and greenhouse gas emissions);2. How SMM interact with existing forms of travel in public space and how this impacts on the attractiveness and accessibility of these modes;3. How travel implications of (see 1.), and access to SMM mobilities (see 2.) differ between geographical contexts and socio-economic groups, and what impacts this has on equity and inclusion.Based on these insights, COCOMO engages in co-creation with users and stakeholders in order to develop design and planning guidelines for sustainable and inclusive implementation of shared micro mobilities.
Publications (none)
Final Report (none)
Added to Database 26/05/21