The term “New Mobility” once referred to a futuristic concept, but the future is now.  Today,  New Mobility describes the progression of change in transport, technology and mobility that is transforming the global landscape.  New Mobility encompasses a range of possible outcomes based on the unique starting points and specific needs of each community.

A WSP white paper shares consensus surrounding the long-term outcomes and benefits of New Mobility, with a focus on developing practical action plans. Drawing upon research derived through extensive interviews with international industry experts and direct learning from cutting-edge projects around the world, New Mobility Now  is designed to assist technology firms, national, regional and local governments, transport network and system operators, investors, developers and strategic land-owners in mapping out their New Mobility future today.

New Mobility Now  presents a structured approach based around five defined strands of a New Mobility future:

• Automated

• Connected

• Electric

• Shared

• Business Models and Revenues

SHARED

Shared mobility is a term used to describe any transportation service that is shared by users. The concept has grown significantly in recent years due to rapid changes in the availability of digital information and smartphone-based mobility apps, a rising cost of living in urban centres and public interest in sustainable lifestyles. In the context of New Mobility, sharing can create much more efficient patterns of network use at costs that are less than private car ownership. A greater degree of shared use also offers significant place-making benefits for cities and rural centres.

A Concept in Perpetual Motion

The fundamental principle of shared use is that all users are able to access suitable vehicles on a short-term basis. Mobility as a Service, or MaaS, has commercialized the shared mobility concept for personal travel and the shipment of goods. 

Globally, the concept has evolved from bike-sharing schemes, now numbering more than 750 worldwide, to pay-as-you-go travel via services such as Uber. Trends in car clubs and fractional vehicle ownership also continue to gain momentum under the sharing umbrella.

Extending Shared Mobility

Looking ahead, WSP foresees huge potential for shared mobility, with greater flexibility to come that will enable the concept to be adapted to a wider range of situations and locations. In New Mobility Now, researchers anticipate a continued blurring of the boundaries between long-established public transit and new shared forms, with new shared mobility platforms offering benefits without significant infrastructure investment.

WSP believes that a good shared mobility strategy has the potential to improve network efficiency, enable better place-making and free up space for alternative uses, while reducing our reliance on private vehicles.

Download the WSP white paper New Mobility Now  to know more about the five strands of a New Mobility future. 

Interested in learning more about the opportunities, challenges and critical steps to successfully implement New Mobility strategies? Contact WSP’s global research team at [email protected] and we will be pleased to provide you with valuable insight into your market.