Three cities on the road to zero-emission mobility
The Challenge
Many European cities are working to reduce car dependency and lower CO2 emissions, but shifting daily travel habits remains a challenge. Growing populations, economic development, and the need for better public transport options make it essential to enhance the attractiveness of sustainable mobility. In this context, three cities face similar challenges:
Cesena, a city in Italy, faces a high reliance on private cars, with 67% of daily trips made this way. This contributes to severe air pollution, with road transport alone generating 160,000 tons of CO2 per year. Despite having a public transport share of 32%, the city aims to increase it to 35% by 2030. However, this requires significant investment and more appealing alternatives to private cars.
In Debrecen, Hungary, public transport needs to attract more daily commuters. While many residents already use digital tools for mobility, the challenge is to encourage more people to choose buses and shared transport over private vehicles. Expanding the reach of existing services and improving convenience are key priorities.
On the other hand, Viladecans, a city in Spain, seeks to improve access to real-time mobility information and encourage more people to use public and shared transport. A better connection between different mobility services and clearer communication with residents and local businesses are essential to making sustainable travel a more attractive choice.
The Solution
To address all these needs, GreenMob created a journey planner that integrates various modes of transport providing comprehensive information on routes, schedules, fares, and updates in real-time, as well as the innovative integration of a CO2 monitoring tool that automatically recognises the mode of transport used and calculates emissions, allowing consumers to make informed decisions.
GreenMob's successfully introduced Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) solutions in Cesena, Debrecen, and Viladecans to promote sustainable urban transport. Each city integrated digital journey planning and CO2 tracking tools, demonstrating the impact of digital solutions in fostering modal shifts.
In Cesena, the CesenaMob app, developed by Instant System, integrated WeCity’s CO2 calculator, enabling users to plan routes while considering environmental impact. Debrecen’s Menetrend.app incorporated a CO2 tracking feature, expanding its usability for public transport users. Viladecans implemented a similar approach, integrating mobility solutions to encourage sustainable travel choices.
Making an impact
Cesena’s innovative solution facilitated over 1,000 app uses, surpassing the initial goal of 800, with 479 active users contributing to a 20.35 kg CO2 reduction. In Debrecen, the enhanced Menetrend.app attracted 7,500 active users, achieving over 247,500 uses and promoting a modal shift towards sustainable transport. The project showcased how digital tools can engage citizens and improve transport planning.
Regarding modal shift and CO2 saving, in Cesena 20,35 kg of CO2 were saved due to 96% of trips by bike, and 4% walking. In Debrecen 62,4 tons of CO2 were saved. In Viladecans 99,2 kg of CO2 were saved due to 17% of trips by bike, 30% walking, and 52% in public transport. This shows that the adoption of GreenMob had a quantifiable impact on sustainability and modal shift.
Lessons learnt
The most important lesson learn was constant collaboration between all actors in order to develop all the different objectives of the project
User feedback was instrumental in refining the apps, leading to improved functionality and usability. City partnerships played a crucial role in integrating transport data and disseminating results. The pilots demonstrated that CO2 tracking fosters awareness and behaviour change, highlighting the importance of digital solutions in achieving urban sustainability goals.
GreenMob’s success ensures continuity beyond the project timeline, with Cesena securing the WeCity API and planning further app enhancements, and other cities exploring long-term adoption strategies.
