COmpeting and COmplementary MObility solutions in urban contexts (CoCoMo)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leeds
Department Name: Institute for Transport Studies
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.
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
An Z
(2023)
Stereotypes and the public acceptability of shared micromobility
in Travel Behaviour and Society
Guan X
(2024)
Shared micro-mobility and transport equity: A case study of three European countries
in Cities
Guan X
(2024)
Satisfaction-induced travel: Do satisfying trips trigger more shared micro-mobility use?
in Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment
An Z
(2024)
Shared micromobility, perceived accessibility, and social capital
in Transportation
| Description | 1. We explore the potential role of shared micro-mobility (that is shared bikes, shared e-bikes and shared -e-scooters) for social and environmental sustainability. We find that social sustainability of shared micro-mobility is far more nuanced than previously considered. This matters intrinsically for its impacts on quality of lives. It is also significant for assessing potential environmental sustainability of shared micro-mobility, since the social impacts affect travel behaviour and decisions about travelling sustainably. The social implications affect users and non-users of shared micro-mobility. Our quantitative research indicates that use of shared bikes may increase social capital, even if it does not improve users' perceived accessibility. Our qualitative research finds shared micro-mobility can have implications for the role that walking and cycling plays in people's lives and activities, as well as having direct implications for shared micro-mobility users. Further while some people express concern about shared micro-mobility services, there is also tolerance of such services if they contribute to sustainability. 2.Our research emphasises the significance of geographical, regulatory and social context in understanding mobility and travel behaviour. We have conducted research in Greater Manchester, Utrecht and Malmö, each of which has very different provision of shared micro-mobility. Shared bikes have higher acceptability than shared e-scooters in each of the areas we studied. Yet the level of acceptability for both shared bicycles and shared e-scooters is also different in each area. Shared e-scooters are considered most acceptable in Greater Manchester and least acceptable in Malmö. This is interesting as they are far more widespread in Malmö. Shared bicycles are also most acceptable in Greater Manchester, but the variation in acceptability between the three areas is much less for shared bicycles than for shared e-scooters. 3. Our research investigates forms of mobility services which are relatively new, which are rapidly changing, and which may need further significant change if they are to realise potential sustainability benefits. This creates methodological and analytic challenges which we have addressed. We used two types of analysis to assess causal direction in cross sectional quantitative data on social capital and shared micro-mobility. In exploring how changes in micro-mobility might influence social sustainability we recognised the challenges in asking about change which has not been experienced, and instead used observation and in-depth discussion to understand activities and values of activities which stand to be affected. |
| Exploitation Route | In addition to contributing to knowledge about sustainability and inclusion in urban mobility, we anticipate our findings will be useful to transport planners and service providers, and non-governmental organisations and the public interested in participating in transport planning for their towns and cities. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy Energy Environment Government Democracy and Justice Transport |
| Description | Findings have informed invited presentations and talks to practitioner and policy audiences. Specifically, they have informed presentations focused on understanding what is required to simultaneously improve social and environmental sustainability in transport. The findings, and methodologies from the research have been used to inform MSc teaching for students taking transport MSc programmes and students taking the MSc Sustainable Cities at the University of Leeds. MSc dissertation have been aligned with the project. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2022 |
| Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Energy,Environment,Transport |
| Impact Types | Societal Policy & public services |
| Description | MSc teaching and supervsision |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Most students move into employment or further study related to transport and sustainable cities. Some students already work in those sectors and use the MSc to further their knowledge and skills. |
| Title | Mobile interviews for sustainability of shared micro-mobility |
| Description | Mobile interviews (also known as go-along interviews) in which the researcher accompanies the participant were designed to explore implications of shared micro-mobility for sustainability. Mobile interviews are not a novel method per se, the mobile interviews have a novel design to elicit understanding of whether and how expansion of shared micro-mobility would influence sustainability. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The method will be reported in publications still in draft |
| Title | Questionnaire survey on shared micro-mobility in three countries |
| Description | Questionnaire survey for the CoCoMo project used for data collection in Greater Manchester, UK, Utrecht, the Netherlands, and Malmö, Sweden. The questionnaire consists of four sections, covering a range of questions on demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, stated and revealed preferences related to SMM and other forms of transport, attitudes and perceptions of SMM, and social connections. Terminology was adapted so that it would be understood in each country, for instance, terminology for e-scooters is different in the UK and Netherlands. The questionnaire was provided in the native language of each respective country (i.e., Dutch for the Netherlands and Swedish for Sweden) with an additional English version offered as an option. (note this is taken from text provided to UK Data Archive drafted by Zihao An and Caroline Mullen) |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The data collected has been used in CoCoMo publications. The data has been submitted to UK Data Archive in two forms, one which has partial postcode data is restricted, and the other without that data is open access. This approach has been taken through discussion with UK Data Archive. |
| Title | Data collection title: Shared Micromobility, the CoCoMo project: Questionnaire Survey data |
| Description | This data collection includes questionnaire survey data for the CoCoMo project and three versions of the questionnaire used for data collection in Greater Manchester, UK, Utrecht, the Netherlands, and Malmö, Sweden. The questionnaire surveys were conducted from July to September 2022. The surveys were restricted to residents aged 18 and over in the three study areas. The questionnaire consists of four sections, covering a range of questions on demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, stated and revealed preferences related to SMM and other forms of transport, attitudes and perceptions of SMM, and social connections. Terminology was adapted so that it would be understood in each country, for instance, terminology for e-scooters is different in the UK and Netherlands. The questionnaire was provided in the native language of each respective country (i.e., Dutch for the Netherlands and Swedish for Sweden) with an additional English version offered as an option. The questionnaire survey data includes responses from 2,058 participants. Note - this is text provided to UK Data Archive drafted by Zihao An and Caroline Mullen |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This has been submitted to UK Data Archive, but does not appear published yet. The data has been used in the project publications. |
| Title | Qualitative data for CoCoMo project |
| Description | This comprises transcripts, researcher notes and photographs data from mobile (go-along) interviews in three countries with pedestrians, cyclists and users of shared micro-mobility. Transcripts from expert interviews of practitioners and policy-makers involved in transport planning and shared micro-mobility, and transcripts and notes of workshops with public discussing shared micro-mobility. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | We are investigating whether transcripts can be made public given permissions from participants and data protection considerations. |
| Description | Fair Energy Futures |
| Organisation | University of Leeds |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Network brings together researchers from across Leeds University working on energy systems, sustainability and fairness broadly conceived. It reaches out to, and involves, practitioners and policy-makers from NGOs, public sector and private sector. The purpose is to encourage and facilitate impactful, inter-disciplinary research I am a member of the Steering Committee. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Setting up the network, including scoping disciplines and research areas involved. Publicity and developing membership. Organisation of three workshops, of which two have occurred and one is happening in late March 2023. Facilitation of |
| Impact | Two workshops to date. One with academics from across the University, and one with Transport for the North, and also involving academics from York University. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Department for Transport visit to Institute for Transport Studies |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of CoCoMo project and emerging findings to Department for Transport at their visit to Institute for Transport Studies in May 2023 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Invited presentations to Department of Transport staff on social equity and sustainable transport. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Invited presentations to Department of Transport staff on social equity and sustainable transport. Presentation was invited to two events, one in Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds on 25.07.2024 and one at Department for Transport Offices in Leeds on 8th November 2024 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Invited speaker at launch event for "Insights into the transition towards sustainable urban mobility" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Invited speaker at launch event for "Insights into the transition towards sustainable urban mobility" DynaMo-Mobility-Energy-Dynamics (DynaMo) research group, Universities Munster and Stuttgart, 28th April 2022. Please note this drew on CoCoMo and my other research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Invited speaker webinar 'The road to zero carbon post COP26 - where do we go next?' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 'Inclusive transitions to low carbon mobility' presentation and panellist at webinar 'The road to zero carbon post COP26 - where do we go next?' Organised by Landor Links/Systra (media). Please note this was informed by CoCoMo and my other research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.transportxtra.com/tx-events/2617/the-road-to-zero-carbon-post-cop26-where-do-we-go-next- |
| Description | MSc lecturing and dissertation supervision [note added to impact section] |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | CoCoMo methodologies and emerging findings are informing teaching on MSc programmes at the Institute for Transport Studies, and the MSc Sustainable Cities which is a faculty wide programme hosted by the School of Earth and Environment at the University of Leeds. We have also supervised/ are supervising 5 MSc Dissertations on bike sharing - 3 in academic year 2022-23, and another three also on bike sharing in academic year 2022-23. [Note will add this to impact section as more appropriate there] |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023,2024 |
| Description | Mobility Justice and low-carbon transitions |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited presentation to a workshop organised by Westminster University and for an audience of practitioners, planners and academics. Please note the presentation draws on my research from across projects on sustainable mobility and mobility justice. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Panelist at Resolution Foundation launch 'Getting the Green Light' report |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Invited panelist at Resolution Foundation launch 'Getting the Green Light' report, with Ruth Cadbury MP (panel), Jonathan Marshall (author) and David Willets (Chair) 17th Oct 2024. Report on electrification of transport and equity. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.resolutionfoundation.org/events/getting-the-green-light/ |
| Description | Sustainable Travel Steering Group at Leeds University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The Sustainable Travel Steering Group is responsible for delivering the sustainable travel commitments in our Climate Plan. In order to achieve our targets we will need to work closely with the wider city and consider how we can support our staff and students to adopt more sustainable, low emission transport whilst balancing our commitments to deliver academic excellence and a just transition. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |