Image Courtesy of CoMoUK

Mobility Hubs - A 'Pop Up' Demonstrator

The recent government paper ‘Better Connected’ has a theme of integrating different modes of transport. An enabler of this is the use of ‘Mobility Hubs’ which integrate modes of transport.  Mobility Hubs can be located throughout urban, suburban and rural areas enabling access to, and interchange between, a choice of sustainable mobility options to suit individual user needs. Concentrating mobility into these locations also unlocks other opportunities, whether they are localised public realm enhancements, commercial uses or community provision.

The Society posted information about Mobility Hubs together with links to a document prepared by Go-Ahead’s and Arup’s vision for how they can be developed.

Experience Elsewhere

Mobility hubs are increasingly becoming an operational reality in several with working examples being seen in Belgium, Austria, Germany and Norway. The emphasis and offer of these hubs varies, ranging from integrating existing bus and tram services with active travel, through to introducing focused spaces for car clubs.

Trying out the Concept.

Collaborative Mobility UK (CoMoUK) is a national charity for the social, economic and environmental benefits of shared transport. They offer a range of research and consultancy services.  

CoMoUK has developed ‘pop-up’ mobility hubs which can be used to test out the viability of mobility hub. The modular hubs have proved to be a useful tool to:

• test potential long-term mobility hub and bike sharing locations;
• test the potential for modal shift,
• explore cost of living and health improvements in the short term;
• be centrepieces for valuable community engagement.

The hubs have parking for bike share bikes or privately owned bikes, a bike repair kit and pump, planting, and accessible seating. They also include a totem which can be updated with local sustainable travel information.  The hubs can be expanded or co-located with other relevant, low-carbon options such as space for car cub vehicles or hangars for storing cargo bikes and aid the development of a kerbside strategy.

Application to Guildford

With the Beryl Bike Scheme in operation in Guildford might it be worth creating one or more temporary Mobility Hubs.  Potential locations might be a local rail station, a Park and Ride site, and the long distance coach stop on Egerton Road