Turku made a mobility experiment for its employees with the aim of reducing the use of cars, especially for commuting and work trips of less than 10 kilometers.
The aim of the experiment was to replace car with more sustainable means of transport for the commuting workers. It was also possible to use the equipment at leisure. Various electric vehicles were selected as the means of transport to be distributed, as they are agile, versatile and easy to use and do not require a separate driving license. The pilot also supported the City of Turku's carbon neutrality goals and smart mobility.
9 different electronic means of transport were selected for the experiment; 2 were electric bikes and 2 light electric scooter, an electric light car, a four-wheeled electric scooter, an electric kickboard and a seated electric kickboard.
The goal was to get 200 experimenters for the equipment. The trial period was from August 2018 to October 2019. From a total of 58 units enrolled, only a portion was selected. The trial period was 2 weeks per person. Experimenters were expected to use the electronic vehicle on trips to and from work, work related trips, and leisure time, and to report user experiences using a form to be completed at the end of the trial period. After a period of use, the device was moved to the next person.
The pilot was carried out in co-operation with the Service Center for Sustainable Development and Energy in Southwest Finland, Valonia. They were involved in the preparation of the questionnaires related to the experiment, the teaching materials of sustainable mobility, as well as organizing the trainings.
Resources needed
Total budget for 1.5 years was € 35,000 (incl. the pilot for the electric car). Salaries for one full-time employee from the city and a mobility expert from Valonia were covered from external project funding reserved for the pilot. The pilot was part of Civitas Eccentric project funded by Horizon.
Evidence of success
Total of 24 units and 105 individual experimenters participated. The total amount travelled was 4,897 km. The experience of using the devices was generally considered to be good or very good with all the devices. There were more users daily in to and from work trips than on work related trips.
Pilot provided info and skills on how to implement similar methods in the future and on the acquisition of equipment. In addition, the pilot provided visibility for electronic mobility in Turku.
Difficulties encountered
Challenges were related to project structure, management and information flow. In addition, the lack of a booking system and reconciling the schedules of many different parties. Tendering, share of responsibilities, weather, maintenance, storage and transportation. Some equipment was vandalized.
Potential for learning or transfer
A similar sharing model could be implemented and adopted in other organizations and city units. Considering similar models for implementing urban climate programs will also contribute to climate goals and bring savings. After the experiment, another similar experiment began, but the sharing device was an electric car.
During the experiment, it was found that the reservation system as well as transportation and storage problems should be considered as far as possible. This avoids unnecessary problems. For example, a storage problem that was solved by utilizing the city’s own premises, but the transportation partners could not enter the city’s premises without one of the project workers being involved.
Although the devices were generally perceived as good, there may have been differences of opinion between individuals, and one should carefully consider the suitability of the correct device between individuals.
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Tags: Circular economy, City, Climate change, Electric, Mobility, Project, Sharing ideas, Transport
