In the coming year, the City of Leuven will set up their pop-up mobility hubs 'Hoppinpoints' at three Leuven neighborhood centers. Visitors to the centers can use the shared (cargo) bikes and cars for free. In this way, the city wants to remove possible barriers and further stimulate shared mobility. On March 13, the city opened the first temporary Hoppinpoint at the Mannenstraat neighbourhood center.
In the framework of promoting sustainable urban mobility and within the collaboration of the ShareDiMobiHub project, Leuven is introducing an innovative approach to shared mobility through the implementation of their Hoppinpoints. Since 2021, it is possible for citizens to find more than forty Hoppinpoints in Leuven. 'Hoppinpoints' are the shared mobility hubs that the city have designed where various forms of shared mobility such as shared (cargo) bicycles and shared cars are to be parked. These have been chosen in order to allow transfer to public transport and facilitate multimodality.
Shared mobility is already very popular in Leuven. More and more Leuven residents are opting for a shared bicycle or car. In four years, the number of car sharers has increased by no less than 80%. These are impressive figures, but there is still margin for growth and we know also that some Leuven residents have difficulty finding their way to shared mobility. Visitors to the centers can use the shared (cargo) bicycles and vans for free. We want to reduce possible barriers and move people towards shared mobility,
The initiative commenced with the opening of a temporary Hoppinpoint at the Mannenstraat neighborhood center, in collaboration with local mobility organizations Velo and Mobiel21. This initiative not only provided immediate access to various shared mobility solutions but also included educational components to familiarize users with the systems. Throughout a specified period, community members have the opportunity to utilize shared bicycles and vehicles at no cost, with the aim of gathering valuable feedback to refine and expand the shared mobility offerings.
Gathering Citizens insights
Central to the Leuven's approach to shared mobility through the Hoppinpoint initiative is a feedback mechanism designed to engage the community and gather insights on user experiences. From March 13 to August 13, 2024, participants visiting the Mannenstraat community center are invited to utilize the shared mobility options, including (electric) bicycles, cargo bikes, and cars, free of charge upon registration. This period serves as a critical test phase wherein the city, in collaboration with partners and community workers, offers guidance and support to users, making shared mobility accessible and user-friendly. Furthermore, the initiative extends the opportunity to local residents to experience shared bicycles at an affordable rate, incentivizing participation with the prospect of winning free access to services provided by the car-sharing entity, Cambio.
In exchange for this access, Leuven solicits comprehensive feedback from users. This feedback is aimed at understanding users' perceptions of the Hoppinpoint, identifying any barriers they encounter, and gauging their propensity to use shared vehicles more frequently in the future. Sam Delespaul of Mobiel21 emphasizes the importance of this feedback in shaping the city's future mobility policies, suggesting that it will inform decisions on whether to integrate shared vehicles into the neighborhood's transportation infrastructure on a more permanent basis. As the Hoppinpoint transitions to other community centers later in the year, the city remains committed to refining its shared mobility offerings based on the community's insights, underscoring the initiative's role in fostering a collaborative, sustainable urban mobility landscape.
In August, the Hoppinpoint is set to relocate to the Sint-Maartensdal community center, and subsequently in December, it will make its way to the Casablanca community center. Each temporary Hoppinpoint provides access to a variety of shared mobility options, including two standard shared bicycles, two electric shared bicycles, an electric shared cargo bike designed for personal errands or transporting children, an electric shared cargo bike equipped with a large cargo box suitable for hauling goods, and a shared car. This assortment ensures that a broad range of transportation needs can be met, facilitating an inclusive approach to urban mobility.
This article has been extracted and modified from the Leuven City website.