Inclusive stakeholder involvement to implement sustainable mobility solutions: A case study of mobility hubs

Abstract

Transportation planning has traditionally overlooked public participation, being highly influenced by technical approaches (Kębłowski & Bassens, 2018), while often adopting a post-political perspective (Legacy, 2016). Nonetheless, policymakers are increasingly interested in participatory methodologies that facilitate stakeholder involvement. This is because such involvement is central to developing solutions and policies that are just and sustainable, and facilitate their adoption (Triplett & Johnson, 2011). In this regard, participatory methods need to take into consideration inclusivity to facilitate broader and equitable involvement (Bailey et al., 2012).

In the context of the Smarthubs project, a co-creation process of a mobility hub was implemented in Anderlecht (Brussels), to design an inclusive multifunctional space. Relevant stakeholders and disadvantaged groups (e.g., older individuals, ethnic minorities, and people with lower education and/or income levels) were involved. Employing an adaptive and exploratory approach, the process focused on informal social interactions in public spaces to engage participants. Four-day-long on-street events served as platforms for inviting inhabitants, civic organizations, public authorities and service operators to participate in different activities, discussing sustainable mobility solutions and collecting their input. The latter served as a basis for designing a future mobility hub in the location where the activities took place.

The co-creation process offered valuable insights into relevant approaches for involving stakeholders, especially disadvantaged groups. The results highlight the significance of such inclusive methodologies in ensuring equity and representativeness in participatory transport planning. As a result, several recommendations for researchers, practitioners, and decision-makers interested in fostering inclusive solutions were developed. The findings contribute to a growing body of knowledge aimed at transforming urban environments and promoting a more sustainable and equitable urban future.