Mobility transition, urban mobility, transport transition... you have probably read or heard all of this often in the context of bicycles.
With our products, especially our bicycle trailer, we would also like to support the mobility transition and thus make a contribution to an urban future worth living in. But what do these terms actually mean? We will give you an overview of the concept of urban mobility, its aims and challenges and what options you have to take part in the mobility transition (spoiler: the bicycle plays a not entirely unimportant role).
Urban mobility as mobility of the future
The term urban mobility describes all transport options and transport networks within the urban area which are available to people for transport. The aim of urban mobility is to promote more efficient traffic flow and to offer all road users the most user-friendly transport options possible. In addition, sustainable transportation methods should be established.
Compared to the last few years, it can be said that a lot has happened in terms of urban mobility. Innovations have replaced older technologies or established themselves as new and alternative means of transport.
Mobility transition is a prominent topic of discussion. This ensures that the final energy consumption of the transport sector falls without restricting mobility. The transport offering should be expanded based on technological developments and multimodal transport behavior should be made easier. This makes it possible to identify and implement previously unrealized potential for avoiding, shifting and optimizing traffic. The mobility transition does not lead to less mobility, but rather to an improved quality.
The transport transition primarily represents a technical challenge. It is important to guarantee that the remaining final demand for transport is met with climate-neutral drive energies and that these are used efficiently and economically, for example in cars.
A political framework is essential for achieving this objective. New technical possibilities offer the opportunity and freedom to align traffic regulation with climate protection much more closely than in the past. Key to this is, among other things, the promotion of new mobility offerings.
Sustainable mobility offers
The electrification of automobiles for better sustainability has been in full swing for a few years. More and more companies are converting their fleets to electric cars. The transition away from traditional combustion engines and towards electric cars is particularly noticeable in (large) cities. There is now a well-developed charging infrastructure for electric cars there, which is used by private individuals and companies.
Public transport is also increasingly switching to e-mobility. In addition to electricity-powered S-Bahn and subway trains, electric buses can also be used to get around.
The advantage of the electronic mobility concept is that the existing transport network can be used without major adjustments.
The use of e-scooters also serves as a sustainable mobility option. E-scooters offer an alternative to bicycles to get around in city traffic without traffic jams and searching for a parking space. The principle of use is similar to that of car sharing. Using a smartphone app, people can rent and ride the e-scooters directly at the location. The usage costs are calculated based on the kilometers traveled.
In the summer of 2022, the “9 Euro ticket” was offered by Deutsche Bahn and municipal transport companies. This was very popular among the population and in view of the high demand and use by people, the transport ministers of the federal states decided to offer a successor ticket. This entitles the population to use all local transport nationwide for a price of €49. The ticket is particularly practical for commuters who have to drive to their workplace in the city center during the week. In this way, they are offered a more environmentally friendly and cheaper method of transport. In addition, road traffic is relieved, which reduces traffic jams and exhaust gas production.
The role of the bicycle in the mobility transition
There are now various funding programs at federal and state level for the purchase of bicycles, e-bikes and cargo bikes in Germany. An overview can be found, for example, on the cargobike.jetzt website, where you can search for funding opportunities in your city or region.
