Hamburg is increasingly focusing on creating inclusive mobility solutions that cater to all citizens. In light of demographic aging and the need for sustainable urban transport, Hamburg plays a pivotal role in reshaping how mobility is designed. This article explores the city’s commitment to accessible, sustainable transport and highlights key European projects coordinated by the Senate Chancellery.
Hamburg is actively working to create a future where mobility is accessible to everyone, regardless of age, physical ability, or mobility challenges. Currently, three Horizon Europe projects on this topic are being coordinated by the Senate Chancellery together with different stakeholders of the city’s administration.
AMIGOS (Active Mobility Innovations for Green and safe city sOlutionS, www.amigos-project.eu) is a 4-year project that started in June 2023. Hamburg is coordinating the consortium of 28 partners, 14 of which are cities while the other half are research and technology partners. The uptake of sustainable mobility solutions relies on their inclusivity, affordability and safety, as well as their consistency with users’ needs. Through co-creation activities and innovative digital tools, the AMIGOS project will identify present and future mobility challenges for 5 cities (living labs) and 10 urban areas (safety improvement areas). The digital tools include a Mobility Observation Box and an application for the collection of new mobility data, which will feed a big data platform for their analysis and digital twins to visualize mobility scenarios. They will allow urban stakeholders to identify mobility challenges and will serve as a basis for the co-development of adapted mobility solutions: towards reducing traffic, increasing public and active mobility modes, improving safety and co-habitation between different mobilities, and towards increased safety.
InclusiveSpaces (Designs, Tools & Frameworks for Creating an Accessible & Inclusive Built Environment for All, for Now & for the Future; https://inclusivespaces-heproject.eu/) has started in May 2024 and will run for three years with 17 partners and 6 pilot cities, one of which is Hamburg. The city is going to test a tool for easy access to bathing in natural water (beaches, lakes) for people with reduced mobility, as well as a mobility hub for specialised vehicles to be shared among people with disabilities (e.g. an inclusive upright tricycle). Furthermore, a comfort-based accessibility tool and an accessibility routing tool for visually and mobility impaired people will be tested on site.
Thus, together with SINFONICA, the city is collaborating in three very interesting European-funded mobility projects focusing on an inclusive mobility transition. The concept of inclusive mobility in Hamburg is rooted in the idea of universal accessibility. Public transport systems and urban spaces are to be designed with the needs of all citizens in mind, including people in vulnerable situations.
At local level two interesting projects deal with the topic of autonomous vehicles in public transport: “Ahoi” and “ALIKE” contribute to the development of transport systems and services that cater to diverse mobility needs.
A core principle guiding the city’s efforts is “Design for All”, which ensures that products and services are accessible to the widest possible range of people from the outset. This concept, often referred to as “Universal Design”, not only addresses the physical accessibility of transport systems but also considers social, economic, and environmental sustainability.
As the city continues to prioritize social, environmental, and economic sustainability, its efforts will serve as a blueprint for other cities aiming to create more accessible, equitable, and sustainable transport systems including autonomous on-demand services.
As part of a Letter of Intent for an inclusive mobility transition signed in April 2023 by the Senator for Transportation and Mobility Transition and representatives of numerous associations for e.g. the blind, the deaf, the advisory council for the elderly, a regular working group has been set up meeting at least twice a year. The intention is to engage relevant stakeholders and thus gain better insights and a deeper sense for the needs of people in vulnerable situations. This is of utmost importance as Hamburg has become a model city for mobility which entails national funding and international recognition.
In 2025 as well as in 2027 Hamburg will be host to the UITP Summit, welcoming experts from Europe and beyond and showcasing its latest developments in the field of public transport.
Author: Stephanie Keßler (Senate Chancellery of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg).
Keywords: European-funded, Inclusivity, inclusive mobility, accessibility, barrier-free, design principles, active mobility, sustainability
