Shared mobility is the idea that rather than owning individual vehicles, we share one with others. This concept can be done in a variety of different ways, such as car clubs and rental schemes.
It doesn’t even have to be just cars; other modes of transport can be included when it comes to shared mobility. We’ve seen examples of this across the country in towns and cities with the use of communal bikes and scooters.
The theory here is that it will significantly reduce the amount of carbon being emitted per person as we are actively avoiding taking solo journeys.The transport minister, Trudy Harrison, said that it was staggering that nearly two-thirds of journeys are taken by lone drivers.
The future of shared mobility is likely to grow gradually over time. An example of investment in mobility is Enterprise who bought City Car Club. They obviously see profitability and longevity in the very short-term rental model.
However, when we surveyed car-buyers and asked them if their next vehicle would be electric, petrol, diesel, or from a car club, less than 1% of people said they would choose a car club.
So why right now, is there such a high proportion of the population choosing to own a car, rather than share one?
The urge to share will have been pushed back as the pandemic emerged. It will have had an effect on people’s willingness to share as we are now hyper-aware of people in our personal spaces and the consequences that might have on our health.
Additionally, people that live in rural areas are going to face significant challenges if they wish to try and use shared modes of transport. Small towns and villages aren’t likely to have many/if any cars sat about waiting. People are probably going to be commuting into work.
Public transport options can often be few and far between in these areas, plus many rural communities don’t even have the infrastructure in place for people to walk safely. Back roads and country roads are often unlit and have no footpaths.
Where could shared mobility work?
It does seem a logical idea for those that live in metropolitan areas to encourage the use of shared transport. Whether that’s an increase in the use of public transport or sharing cars, it makes sense.
In big towns and cities there is an abundance of alternatives to owning your own vehicle. People already tend to shy away from driving in city centres, due to poor traffic flow, expensive parking, and congestion charges.
At the moment, these congestion zones only include petrol and diesel vehicles, but over time they will start to include greener cars too. This is due to the authorities aim to reduce traffic as well as pollution.
If you live close by to amenities, don’t use a car every day, and are well connected to public transport links, shared mobility is potentially a good fit for your lifestyle. Not to mention the amount of money you could save!
Emotional decisions
Driving for many isn’t just about getting from A to B. There is a reason there is an entire culture of petrol-heads. Cars are a talking point, a passion, a hobby, an investment.
We surveyed 2,150 consumers in our State of the Nation survey, and we found that 85% agreed to some extent with the statement that they “love to drive”.
For most of us, our cars are personal. The majority of people don’t share their house, clothes, or mobile phones with strangers.
People see their car as a sanctuary, whether it’s an office on wheels, a quiet place to eat lunch or even just an escape from the hustle and bustle.
Many see their vehicles as a personal statement. The automotive industry sells as many more Mercedes and BMWs than it does Dacias, indicating that brand is often more important to drivers than just the sole purpose of the vehicle…to get places.
Where do we stand?
The above highlights that there is absolutely an emotional challenge to shared mobility. This is on top of the practical elements which need to be overcome for it to have a chance of becoming a standard practice.
At the annual conference, Collaborative Mobility UK, Ms Harrison DfT, said that the UK needs to “move away from 20th century thinking centered around private vehicle ownership” and “introduce greater flexibility, with personal choice and low carbon shared transport”.
She added that “shared mobility must be the norm across the UK”.
I doubt it.
The pressure the UK automotive industry currently faces when it comes to delivering carbon conscious solutions is one that is increasing growing as we creep closer to the 2030 and 2035 deadlines.
Is shared mobility the answer? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
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