Framing the transport poverty gap: mapping vulnerable groups

To effectively design and implement actions that will diminish the transport poverty gap, the city of Tilburg first needs to clarify the nature and size of the challenge. A number of organisations representing vulnerable groups will be actively involved in the initial analysis, so that we gain a clear understanding of their locations, needs, skills and requirements. The outcome of this process will be an online system to map these groups, where they live and multimodal accessibility. This mapping will then be used when design pilots are set up to tackle the existing problems.

Implementing socially inclusive solutions

Then, a process will be set up with end users to design tailor-made solutions, such as one that will help the elderly living in rural areas use public transport, and another that will reduce urban social exclusion by bridging the needs and skills gap of people living in poverty. A circular approach will be used to actively include feedback and enable interventions and adjustments within the pilots.

Nextbike will lead the realisation of a concept for a socially inclusive bikeshare scheme, with special attention given to marginalised groups, including seniors, people with low incomes, the disabled and migrants, for the Tilburg region. It will do this by:

• Following the DIGNITY user-centric approach, liaising with marginalised and vulnerable groups through partnerships with local community organisations, in order to understand, map, and cater to their needs;
• Defining a specific response and approach as part of a bikeshare concept (e.g. strategically located and accessible docking stations; low-cost bikeshare scheme membership; removal of payment barriers through cash payments and freephone numbers; a programme to boost group rides; road skill sessions and city navigation events) that can be used to realise a successful scheme that also fully benefits from digitalization.