First step towards Shared Mobility Hubs gets underway with public consultation

The Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan T.D., has today opened a public consultation as a first step towards the development of Shared Mobility Hubs.

These are hubs where a range of shared travel options – including, for example, shared bikes, electric bikes or e-cars – come together and can be accessed in one place by people who need them. They are often located close to other public travel hubs such as train or bus stations.

Following this consultation, it is intended to pilot shared hub networks within several locations. International evidence suggests that ease of accessibility, with options to travel between hub locations and to and from public transport interchanges, is key to reducing reliance on cars for many journeys, particularly for shorter distances. Before these pilots are rolled out, the Department wants to ask people what they think about shared mobility hubs and how they would like them to work.

The Climate Action Plan 2024 (CAP24) and National Sustainable Mobility Policy (SMP) includes several actions to expand the availability of shared mobility options in Ireland.

As part of its efforts to deliver on these commitments, the Department of Transport has developed an issues paper which outlines the rationale for the development of shared mobility and mobility hubs in the context of Ireland’s emissions reduction targets and sets out key issues to be explored and addressed within an Irish context.

The paper summarises possible considerations around governance, operations, data, communications, accessibility, safety and inclusion, and invites responses on these or any additional areas on which stakeholders may choose to offer their views. It is intended that responses to this consultation will be considered as part of a process to develop a new national policy statement on Shared Mobility Hubs.

Launching the public consultation, Minister Ryan emphasised the importance of shared mobility in enabling new approaches to how we move around as part of our daily lives:

“The development of a vibrant market for shared mobility services has the potential to transform peoples travel habits. We’re already doing this with the likes of the shared bike schemes in our cities and towns.

We want to build on this by developing shared mobility hubs where people could pick up a bike, a cargo-bike or an e-car, for example to use for a particular trip or need, or to cover the first and last mile of their journeys while linking with our expanding public transport system. Shared mobility is a key part of our transport transformation.

Such hubs will also help to reduce parking needs, provide access to electric vehicles for people who may otherwise struggle have such access, and reduce or eliminate the costs which normally come with owning our own cars.

The first step towards a comprehensive network of services is the establishment of mobility hubs pilots, which will provide a model that we can expand across the country. I would encourage as many people as possible to give us their views and to help inform the development of a shared mobility sector which works for Ireland.”

Submissions by citizens and stakeholders will play a fundamental role in shaping the future of shared mobility in Ireland and its place in the wider transport system. The consultation period will conclude on 3 May, and further information can be found at Public Consultation: Shared Mobility Hubs Issues Paper .