Flats, furniture, gardens, equipment and even cars and bikes can be occasionally or permanently used by several persons through private coordination or a commercial provider. Apart from commercial service providers, sharing models can also be created on a private basis beyond groups of friends and family. Sharing sites emerge from Internet-based social networks or may be local initiatives (neighbourhood groups, residents of new housing estates). Exchange and joint use may concern cars and bicycles as well as other types of vehicles – from shopping caddy and bike trailer to freight bike and delivery van. Car sharing started as a small-scale local initiative and has by now been developed into a global business model. Free-floating car sharing systems are independent of stations; this new offering is hugely successful, and its development is far from over.

Public bike sharing systems and car sharing have become well established in big cities; they are increasingly considered to complement public transport. They work especially well if they are implemented in close cooperation with public transport. Being as readily accessible as they are, these services are also very appealing to tourists.

More options due to needs-oriented mobility

The fact that the city is equipped with a variety of generally accessible mobility options opens up many opportunities to people. If you have a quick errand to run, bike sharing might be a good solution even though you started out on public transport or by car, in case of larger objects, a hired delivery van might be useful.

More efficient use by sharing

A broad range of mobility options which do not require owning a vehicle has several positive effects. On the one hand, the budgets of privete households my be less stretched, on the other hand, one can make time for other things e.g. by not having to take care of maintenance. At the same time, fewer spaces are needed to accommodate vehicles which are rarely used and existing vehicles are used to capacity. This is a pragmatic approach to using things: efficiency, convenience and cost reduction are in the foreground. The tendency among young people in big European cities is no longer to consider the car a (status) symbol. This is why the rate of cars owned per capital is declining. Car sharing and bike sharing are booming in many cities and regions. Permament Internet access via smartphones facilitates the use of these services around the clock and interlinked.

Further development of bike sharing systems

Modern and convenient public bike sharing systems make it easy and attractive to go in for cost-effective multi-modal mobility without a car of your own. The successful interconnection with public transport produces positive results for eco-mobility overall. Moreover, cycling comes with health-conducive effects, thus creating major economic value.

Estabilishment of mobility points

A mobility point is meant to give uncomplicated and fast access to low-emission mobility around the clock. It can be a central facility in a new urban development area or strenghthen structures in existing neighbourhoods.

A variety of vehicles and services can be booked and used. This way, mobility services can be bundled in a well-structured way in one place, which is particularly important in new urban development areas.

These are the potential services offered at a mobility point:

• bike sharing (station of the city system or local initiative);
• car sharing (parking spaces for various providers and local initiatives);
• single-track vehicle sharing stations (e.g. e-scooters, motorcycles) and stations for other, emission-free means of transport (freight bicycles, e-bikes);
• delivery service infrastructure (community mailboxes, lock boxes for interim storage, cooling boxes);
• IT infrastructure (computer terminal or the like) for vehicle hire, enabling of use, lock box allocation, delivery notes etc.;
• bicycle repair and service workshops;
• charging stations (e.g. for electric bikes and scooters or mobile hand-held devices which can e.g. be used for accessing dynamic real-time transport information).

Mobility points should primarily be established in readily accessible, attractive places, such as grounf-floor premises of buildings, multi-car garages etc. Ideally, mobility points are located close to public transport stops. The range of services available may vary in accordance with local demand. The establishment and operation of mobility points is to be translated into reality in cooperation with existing organisations and based on extant structures (e.g. quarter management offices) in new or existing neighbourhoods. Mobility points may also create added-value in commercial estates.

Source: STEP 2025: Urban Mobility Plan Vienna

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