Since the last update, the Living Lab Oslo has been working tirelessly to overcome challenges and promote innovation in the field of clean and smart mobility.
Second launch of the Mobility Hub network in Groruddalen
The Mobility Hub network aims to provide citizens with cost-effective and flexible mobility alternatives to car ownership. By implementing a network of neighbourhood hubs in Groruddalen, the City of Oslo wanted to gain insight into how to increase the use of public transport and reduce the number of trips made by private car.In the pilot project, three Mobility Hubs were established at different locations in Groruddalen, all close to public transport hubs. The locations were at Grorud railway station, Stovner centre and Grorud metro station. The first was established in the autumn of 2023 in collaboration with Bane NOR Eiendom, Oslo Public Transport Authority Ruter, car sharing companies and micromobility companies. At that time, the services of e-bikes, e-scooters, bike lockers/secured bike parking, car sharing and parcel lockers were co-located at the mobility hub. However, during the test period this summer, this Mobility Hub offered the services of e-scooters, car sharing and parcel lockers. The Mobility Hubs in the latter two locations were opened shortly before the test period this summer and offered e-scooters. At these mobility hubs, designated MOVE21 posters and signs provided wayfinding information about nearby car sharing and parcel lockers.
The pilot project confirms that the use of and attitudes towards micromobility in the suburbs have potential as a transport alternative to the car. Talking to residents in Groruddalen, there also seemed to be a positive attitude towards the concept of mobility hubs and their contribution to greater freedom of movement in a way that complements existing transport services.
Kaia Mobility Hotel launches in Oslo city centre
The Kaia Mobility Hotel, the first of its kind in Oslo, is opening in the city centre. Co-financed by the EU project MOVE21, the Mobility Hotel is a collaboration between the City of Oslo and MOVE21, Mobility Solutions, the Norwegian postal service Posten/Bring, the food delivery company Wolt and the facility management company Nordic FM Group. The public-private collaboration behind the hotel aims to facilitate and enable more bicycle-based urban logistics in the centre of Oslo and in the area designated as a future zero-emission zone.Approximately half of the vans circulating in the city centre today deliver services and handicrafts. This is in addition to last-mile deliveries. There is great potential to shift more of these urban logistics journeys to more sustainable modes, particularly cycling. How many trips in the city centre can be replaced by bicycles through innovations such as mobility hotels, and how should the roles be divided between public and private entities?
The hotel is a one-stop shop for vehicle purchase, financing, service and maintenance, and vehicle modification. It also provides a rest area for workers, storage and charging facilities. The Mobility Hotel will be expanded to include small-scale consolidation, an outdoor battery swapping station and a mini-warehouse. Services will be added based on identified needs. The benefits can be significant for both the businesses and the city. For the city, the benefits include a reduction in car-based traffic, congestion and climate emissions. In addition, the city sees fewer conflicts between pedestrians and urban logistics operators and fewer unsafe traffic situations. Businesses, on the other hand, report lower costs, less time spent on each assignment and improved health conditions for their service and maintenance staff. In other words, a real win-win situation.