Micromobilities, Multimodality and Public Spaces (4th Workshop of the NEB Seminar)

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Economy
Le 16/03/2022

Micromobilities, Multimodality and Public Spaces (4th Workshop of the NEB Seminar)

While the transport sector now accounts for 25% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the EU, the issues of micro-mobility and multimodality are at the heart of the EU's strategy to reduce the emissions.

Indeed, unlike other greenhouse gas emitting sectors within the European Union, transport-related emissions have increased since the 1990s. In order to respect the commitments made by the European Union within the framework of the European Green Deal, (achieve carbon neutrality by 2050), the question of micro-mobility and multimodality in the public space is one of the main challenges in order to initiate a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector. Indeed, the objective is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions linked to this sector by 90% by 2050.

Multimodality and the use of micro-mobilities also make it possible to combat road traffic congestion, especially around major cities during rush hour. Access to different types of micro-mobility is also an economic advantage in addition to being ecological. Indeed, with the increase in energy prices, traveling by bicycle or scooter saves money, not consuming fuel but also very often being cheaper to buy.

The European Union has developed a "sustainable and intelligent mobility strategy" which aims to contribute to the digital and ecological transformation of the transport sector. This European strategy highlights in particular solutions for transport that are more sustainable, more inclusive, values at the heart of the New European Bauhaus. In addition, by promoting soft mobility, micro-mobility, but also the development of multimodality, the user reclaims his territory, thus making it possible to modify the aesthetics of these territories. The "seamless multimodality", which aims to promote the use of different types of transport between several places, truly makes it possible to operate virtuous and useful connections between the various territories, such as between the urban and the rural or between urban and peri-urban.

Finally, micro-mobilities and the use of multimodality not only make it possible to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but they also make it possible to reduce noise pollution (especially within cities) and to reclaim the space occupied today by more polluting modes of transport.

Relationship to NEB objectives and prospects for cooperation and funding

The question of sustainable mobility and multimodality is at the heart of the NEB's strategy. Micro-mobility and multimodality respond to each of the thematic axes of transformation by the NEB:

  • Reconnecting with nature: through soft mobility and micro-mobility (bicycles, electric scooters), adapted walking and river paths;
  • Regaining a sense of belonging: Multimodality and micro-mobility make it possible to rethink the organization of roads and transport;
  • Giving priority to the places and people who need it the most: The use of public transport and micro-mobilities promote access to the city center for people who cannot afford their own means of transport;
  • Fostering long term, life cycle and integrated thinking in the industrial ecosystem : Guide the transport industry on the development of means of collective transport and on micro-mobility.

EU policies and programs will progressively support the objectives of the New European Bauhaus and will offer opportunities for experimentation, labelling and co-financing, notably with calls for projects dedicated to NEB or integrating a NEB dimension:

  • Transformations of places on the ground
    • The New European Bauhaus – shaping a greener and fairer way of life in creative and inclusive societies through Architecture, Design and Arts (programme Horizon Europe / HORIZON-CL2-2022-HERITAGE-01-10 / January 2022 - April 2022)
    • Programme ‘European Urban Initiative’ (FEDER – UIA / scheduled for the third semester of 2022)
  • Transformations of the enabling environnement for innovation
    • Calls: Cosme, Life, Horizon Europe, Erasmus +
  • Diffusion of new meanings
    • Erasmus +

Objectives and questions for the workshops

The workshops aim to identify problems, or even solutions to be worked on together between European cities and regions as well as their local operators, in order to build tomorrow's projects participating in NEB dynamics and to be in a position to attract EU funding by responding together to future calls for projects.

Exemples of questions for the workshop :

  • How to promote the use of micro-mobility within cities to reduce the density and impact of road traffic? How to adapt urban and rural spaces to the development of micro-mobilities?
  • How to promote the inclusion of people with reduced mobility in the use of different types of micro-mobility?
  • How can the redevelopment of public space lead to the development of different types of micro-mobility? How to reclaim these public spaces, now largely devoted to road traffic?
  • To what extent the development of new multimodal spaces can allow a reduction in the share of road traffic in the transport of goods?
  • How to integrate the NEB into major multimodal infrastructure works in the EU (by nature cross-border)?