Active Travel Companion
In this project I examined the role mobility systems play in the relationship between people and place, considering whether current human centred ‘as a service’ innovations are improving or worsening community connectivity, well-being and prosperity, and how knowledge and discovery could be used as contributory means to achieve systemic aims. In essence, what if urban mobility systems are more important than mechanisms to make journeys?
Specifically my project question was ‘How might we make active travel (cycling, wheeling and walking) the preferred method for regular 2-4 mile journeys taken in and around Dundee City?’
By means of context consider this innovation speculation ‘Performed Mobility System Design‘.
If we look at the mobility system as a stack, from Infrastructure and vehicles at the bottom through to the user at the top, the current development of mobility intermediaries through the digitisation of mobility systems and MaaS is focused on the integration of services, information and transactions which are delivered to the user; based on the infrastructure and vehicles available. Therefore the mobility intermediary is considered from the infrastructure to the user.
Can we consider the mobility intermediary from the user down to the infrastructure. Could participatory digitisation of active travel encourage a shared sense of localised mobility systems, generating more community informed information, services and infrastructure?
This led to the innovation concept of the Active Travel Companion. A ‘mobile with’ companion device to encourage shared active travel, a participative active travel data generator, based on a community open data platform, and a hyperlocal participatory device to inform and influence infrastructure design development and decision making, ultimately leading to more community based influence which localises decisions.
