Impact of New Technologies on Public Transportation and Urban Mobility: Major Study Released by New Cities Foundation, supported by Toyota Mobility Foundation
October 19, 2016 — Press
- Culmination of year-long Connected Mobility Initiative, led by NewCities Senior Fellow Greg Lindsay.
- Study considers policy options for public transportation authorities around the world in wake of vast technological disruptions.
Montréal, Canada – October 19, 2016. NewCities today released Now Arriving: A Connected Mobility Roadmap for Public Transport, the culmination of the year-long Connected Mobility Initiative, supported by the Toyota Mobility Foundation.
The initiative, led by NewCities Senior Fellow, Greg Lindsay, profiles four cities: Washington, D.C.; London; Manila; and São Paulo, and develops near-, mid-, and long-term recommendations for urban transport authorities to develop connected mobility strategies. Key lessons from these case studies offer urban public transit authorities insight on how to transform themselves, how to boldly embrace technology and, ultimately, how to transition from transport operators to mobility managers.
The ubiquity of the smartphone as the key to on-demand transportation services is redefining mobility in cities. Meanwhile, private companies have been first to harness these technologies to create new services such as mapping, ride-hailing, and autonomous vehicle development.
Access “Now Arriving: A Connected Mobility Roadmap for Public Transport”:
http://bit.ly/NCFConnectedMobility
While previous research has examined the impact of technology on users, car ownership and new business models, the Connected Mobility Initiative focuses on how this is transforming public transportation. The report examines how the new landscape of mobility – physical, digital and socioeconomic – opens up powerful new strategies to ensure that cities and their citizens can benefit more broadly from the transformation of transport.
The report recommends that transport authorities create steering committees to assess the potential impact of technologies on transportation, make better use of existing data, and launch microtransit pilot projects.
NewCities will showcase the findings of the report at Cities on the Move, an annual urban mobility event in Tokyo on November 4. The event will convene 150 global leaders from policy, technology, architecture, mobility and economics to explore urban mobility transformations. The two-day event is organized by the NewCities and supported by Toyota Mobility Foundation, X, and Mori Building.
John Rossant, Chairman, NewCities said: “Urban Mobility is transforming faster than ever – with revolutionary transport services altering how we move in cities on a daily basis. It is imperative that we prioritise investment and forward thinking in our public transport networks and fuse strong partnerships to ensure that mobility in our cities in the years ahead not only meets changing demand but is equitable, accessible and innovative.”
Greg Lindsay, Senior Fellow, NewCities said: “Mobility is destiny. How we move through cities defines who we are. To date, the transport revolution triggered by the smartphone has been almost purely the province of private companies. It’s imperative for public transport operators to reassert their essential role in the health and well-being of cities by embracing and extending these same technologies to deliver better and more comprehensive service. Denial and obstruction have failed; this report uses dispatches from four cities to capture various facets of how public transport is coming to grips with this challenge, and offers recommendations collected from their peers on how best to proceed.”
Latondra Newton, Chief Program Officer, Toyota Mobility Foundation said: “The Toyota Mobility Foundation partnered with NewCities on this report to examine the most pressing transport issues facing people in cities today and identify promising paths forward. Among the recommendations, the one calling for greater public-private partnerships is particularly important. At TMF we know that partnerships are critical to addressing global mobility issues so more people can go places and live better lives.”
Find out more about NewCities at www.newcities.org
Find out more about the Connected Mobility Initiative at www.newcities.org/connected-mobility-initiative
Ends
Click here to read in Japanese
Press contact:
Thomas Ledwell
Director of Communications
NewCities
tledwell@newcitiesfoundation.org
+1 514 987 0029
Julie Ann Burandt
Global Communications Manager
Toyota Mobility Foundation
j.burandt@toyota-mf.org
About NewCities
NewCities is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to making cities more inclusive, connected, healthy and vibrant. Focusing on people, places and policies, we bring together a global network of public and private sector leaders and Urban Tech innovators to foster results-oriented collaboration. We also produce actionable research that can be implemented by decision-makers across sectors.
www.newcities.org
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About the Toyota Mobility Foundation
The Toyota Mobility Foundation was established in August 2014 to support the development of a more mobile society. The Foundation aims to support strong mobility systems while eliminating disparities in mobility. It utilizes Toyota’s expertise in technology, safety, and the environment, working in partnership with universities, governments, non-profit organizations, research institutions and other organizations to address mobility issues around the world. Programs include resolving urban transportation problems, expanding the utilization of personal mobility, and developing solutions for next generation mobility.