The Polis Network released a new discussion paper »Mobility as a Service: Implications for urban and regional transport«. The paper offers the perspective of city and regional authorities and discusses the involvement of city and regional authorities in MaaS developments.
Themes addressed in the paper include:
- opportunities that Mobility as a Service (MaaS) may bring
- different implementation scenarios
- risks of specific MaaS models
- key issues authorities consider if/when MaaS is introduced in their city or region.
Why prepare a discussion paper on Mobility as a Service?
Mobility as a Service has been marketed as a new transport concept that may change or disrupt current models of transport provision, particularly in urban areas. The concept of MaaS claims to offer a personal mobility package based on lifestyle needs and delivered through an IT model.
Discussion of MaaS, driven partly by business and technology priorities, is beginning to have an impact on policy thinking, including at EU level. It is important that city and regional authorities, who play a key role in regulating and/or providing transport services, contribute to this debate.
Polis members believe that a key factor in sustainable urban mobility is effective integration of planning and services. To the extent that new mobility services are developed by the private sector, Polis members would like to ensure that these are developed collaboratively with local and transport authorities and support city and regional transport priorities and policies.
The purpose of this paper therefore is to:
- gain clarity on what is MaaS, promote awareness among local and regional authorities and determine the best role for them in the MaaS environment
- discuss the views of local and regional government on MaaS to ensure the debate is not entirely business- or technology-driven
- promote integration of new and traditional mobility services with city and regional transport policies, notably the principles of multi-modality and active travel and the key objective of modal shift
- encourage more communication and greater cooperation between new mobility service providers and local and regional authorities
The paper is specifically targeted at:
- City and regional authorities, to support them in reflecting on how they could approach the introduction of MaaS in their own area
- New mobility service/MaaS providers, to make them aware of the views of transport authorities and the need for partnership working to ensure MaaS delivers benefit for all rather than the few
- National and European authorities, to inform their policies and funding programmes related to Maas
The paper can be downloaded HERE for free.
– For more information please contact Suzanne Hoadley, shoadley@polisnetwork.eu
– An urban mobility breakfast will be held on 19 September 2017 in the Polis office, Rue du Trone 98, 1050 Brussels (BE), to meet in person and discuss MaaS in cities and regions. Register HERE.
– Über Polis (DE)
