The Open Source Lab has completed a discussion paper based on the second Open Source Lab Roundtable attended by international experts in open data, open knowledge, citizen led climate action, smart cities and behavioral science. The Open Data Institute was a key partner in producing the publication which outlines issues and opportunities for open approaches in mobility transformations to enable zero emissions cities. EIT Climate-KIC and the Open Knowledge Foundation were also contributors.
The discussion paper explores key influences of mobility behavior, mobility transformations and what is needed in new mobility governance. Its insights include:
Mobility behavior
- To facilitate sustainable mobility behavior, convenience, cost and speed are pivotal. Balancing these to provide incentive for behavior change depends on the stage of life and values of the transport user. Information based programs and transport service provision should be tailored and targeted based on these variables.
- Location data is highly sensitive information and data privacy must be ensured. Lack of public trust in mobility service providers or overarching data governance could preclude user uptake of sustainable and innovative mobility modes.
Mobility transformations
- Mobility as a Service (MaaS) is changing the nature of mobility in cities. Joint-working and constructive mobility data collection and sharing between mobility service providers and government is needed to ensure zero emissions city progress.
- Open approaches such as open standards, open data and open source code enable innovation and the creation solutions beyond what can be achieved by a single organization. Governance should seek to ensure a basic level of open approaches in mobility digital infrastructure that all stakeholders (public and private) can utilise to generate and deliver novel human centric products and services.
New mobility governance
- Mobility provision is transitioning from the state being the prime source of public transport and information to it being one of many actors providing services, infrastructure and information into the mobility system.
- Regulation and policy will vary by context and involve multiple levels of government, alongside partnerships they will be integral to forging ways forward that achieve sustainable mobility ecosystems whilst elevating the public good.