Neighbourhood mobility: sharing instead of owning

297,329 passenger cars were newly registered in Germany in June 2024, according to the Federal Motor Transport Authority. And the figures are rising: In the private sector, 9.5 per cent more cars were registered than in the same month last year. At the same time, there are more and more vehicles parked on the roads that are hardly used, Philip Weykamp observes. This takes up space that could be used for other purposes, says the young family man, who has been involved in the topic of “mobility” his entire professional life.

Mobility adapted to needs

With his idea of neighbourhood mobility, Philip Weykamp wants to achieve more frequent use of vehicles and reduce the number of vehicles on the road in the long term. His observation: many vehicles are seldom used. His idea: a shared vehicle pool for neighbourhoods consisting of five to ten single-family homes or one or two apartment blocks. The vehicle pool? Is put together as required: for instance, comprising one car, five e-bikes, one cargo bike and five e-scooters. In addition, all participants will receive a DeutschlandTicket and a taxi will be provided for emergencies. “Not every form of mobility is available to everyone,” he ponders. “Neighbourhood mobility, on the other hand, can provide the right form of mobility for every occasion.”

Start with pilot project

He would like to kick off with a pilot project involving interested neighbourhoods. The two to three pilot groups envisaged here will be even smaller: He is looking for three to four single-family homes or one apartment block each. At the moment, Philip Weykamp is looking for people who can be critical, but at the same time open enough to get involved in the experiment. And the participants should know each other, as this will facilitate dialogue. This circle could be expanded later. In particular, he is hoping that the Klever Birne 2024 finale will motivate those who are still sceptical to take part.

“The minimum runtime is two months, ideally the pilot should run for a year, across all seasons, in order to collect enough data,” says Philip Weykamp, describing his approach. During the entire period, he will record exactly which movements take place and which problems occur. For example, he expects different user needs in summer than in winter: “In summer, quite a few families need a car with a trailer coupling and the corresponding towing power for a summer holiday with a caravan. In winter, on the other hand, when it’s wet and cold, some people will probably decide against using an e-bike.”

It’s not just about the technology

“I realise that mobility is an extremely individual freedom,” says Philip Weykamp, pointing out a factor that should not be underestimated. Users should be able to share vehicles with each other using simple technical aids, such as an online calendar. “But coordination and agreement will certainly be a major challenge, especially at the beginning,” he remarks thoughtfully. “People have to start talking to each other and plan and implement routes together. For example, travelling to work in the same direction, going to the supermarket, trips to nursery school and the like.”

Already one step ahead in thought

Philip Weykamp is convinced by his idea: “In addition to the efficient use of vehicles and sustainable transport design, participants can reduce their mobility costs and contribute to their health. After all, alternatives such as the e-bike encourage exercise.”

He already has the founding of a company in mind, into which the experience gained here will flow. Its task would be to provide vehicles or organise the use of existing vehicles owned by the neighbourhood. The data collected during the pilot phase will be used to help build the ideal vehicle fleet for individual neighbourhoods in the future.

For now, however, his idea will be presented at the Klever Birne 2024 final. He thought about how to use the prize money early on: “The prize money will be used to insure the (private) vehicles, for public relations work (website, press, etc.) and to set up the company.”