Another packed agenda and edition, which we really hope you’ll be interested in. We have lots of project updates, CoMoUK making its voice heard in London, two helpful contributions to the debate relating to sustainable transport and disabled people, good news in Totnes and from continental Europe.
Speaking of which, the Netherlands have now legalised e-scooters, leaving the UK as the only developed nation without a permanent such category. We continue to make the case for this legislation, as well as extensions to the highly successful shared e-scooter trials and indeed to have trials in new areas.
We do have fresh legislation however, with Government introducing the English Devolution Bill to Parliament before Summer Recess. This includes bike share licensing and we will be working in depth on this. We would value your inputs and dialogue. It is a key reason why we are recruiting for an Advocacy and Engagement Manager – do take a look and apply – the link is below.
Keep in touch,
Richard Dilks
Chief Executive, CoMoUK
News & insights 🗞️
Partners secured for micromobility project to support disabled people
The project aims to test a number of outreach and confidence building activities to increase use of the existing models of shared bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters amongst disabled people who can travel on two wheels.
During the project, three cohorts of disabled participants will take part in a series of activities including travel training, skills and confidence sessions, and led bike rides. Those taking part will have the opportunity to try both Lime e-scooters and Starling Bank e-bikes run by Beryl, using a range of digital tools to support their use of apps and navigation.
A report with key findings and recommendations will be published at the end of the year.
Quick guide to commissioning car clubs
This new, quick-read document is designed to help local authorities successfully commission car club services via a variety of routes.
It sets out the pros and cons of these different routes alongside wider considerations such as whether to have multiple operators; and how to achieve financial viability and car clubs’ full potential.
Car clubs play a vital role supporting low-car lifestyles, reducing private car ownership and freeing up valuable space. This guide provides practical steps and insights to help you integrate car clubs effectively into your transport strategies and developments, do take a look.
Two disabled people publications citing shared mobility and mobility hubs
Motability Foundation have released their 2025-2030 strategy and we are pleased to see that shared transport features prominently in it as one of their five areas of focus.
We remain grateful to the Foundation for all their support of our ground-breaking and ongoing work relating to shared transport and disabled people, and hope to be collaborating further with them in the future.
Sustrans and Transport For All have released the Motability Foundation-funded work ‘Transforming Mobility’ and we are again pleased to see its call for a national network of mobility hubs. Read more on our mobility hub work including the latest on our pop-up hubs in Scotland.
London calling
We have recently responded to the London Plan call for evidence citing the opportunity to deliver car-free housing and mode shift by building shared transport and mobility hubs into the next generation of this key document.
That consultation closes on 4 August so there is still time to submit your response – we are concerned at the extra costs this will bring to an already thin-margin car club sector and at the discrimination the current proposals will perpetuate whereby private cars resident in the Congestion Charge zone are treated more favourably than the equivalent car club vehicles.
We are still waiting for a response from Transport for London to the London Assembly Transport Committee’s recent and damning report ‘TfL’s Stalling Car Clubs’ (direct file download link). One of its recommendations was that the Mayor should recognise the important part car clubs can and should play in London’s transport mix in the next London Plan.
SHARE North Squared – how shared mobility can support sustainable planning
This EU Interreg-funded project aims to reduce car-dependency in housing developments by helping local governments and developers to integrate shared mobility, and to promote its use to end users. It has led to changes in regulation in Mechelen.
Another of the partners, Dutch developer AM, have found that urban planning typically starts with car parking norms (autoparkeernorm), whereas they believe in mobility norms (mobiliteitsnormen).
The SHARE North team have created a short promotional video to show the value changing parking spaces into green space, thereby improving liveability by replacing underused private cars with shared vehicles which then frees up more space for greenery, cooler towns, improved air quality, more rainwater catchment and playgrounds for kids.
CoMoUK is hiring – new Advocacy and Engagement Manager role
Head to our site for details of this exciting role, coming at a hugely important time as bike share licensing gets started in Parliament and we have a host of other important topics to be engaging stakeholders on.
Podcast corner
Our Chief Executive Richard recently appeared on the Highways Voices podcast discussing all things shared transport – you can tune in here.
Cat bikes in Totnes
It is great to see South Hams District Council & West Devon Borough Council launch a brand new e-bike scheme in Totnes, Catbikes. There are currently have 24 e-bikes across six hubs in the town with further hubs being added later this year.
The bikes and tech are from Active Cycling Projects (App Bikes), but everything else is managed by the council, which is a first for England. The scheme is 100% public funded.
Events 🗓️
Mobility Hub Roadshow 2025
Thursday 18 September, 12:00-4:30pm
Do join us for our Mobility Hub Roadshow 2025 in conjunction with West of England Mayoral Combined Authority. We will be hearing from a range of speakers including from the Authority, the University of West of England, our sponsor Trueform and Tom Morgan of Supersmith with whom we are partnered with on an innovative project with their 3Scooter.
We will then go on a walking tour of the University hub guided by Meristem Design and there will be optional tours of two further hubs by e-bike, e-scooter or DDRT bus service.
A connected, shared mobility world in practice and in thought. We hope to see you there.
"Having given up our own car to save money and get more exercise, we are happy to hire occasionally instead of owning a car and we now rely more on public transport and walk more to shops within the local area."
Female user from London, 55-64, Car Club Annual Report 2024
