Abstract
Transport is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and plans are being implemented to reduce these emissions including attempts to reduce VKTs. Transport can also have a major impact on community wellbeing. Public and active transport are well known and established ways to reduce our reliance of private motor vehicles and reduce greenhouse emissions. However, shifting people away from owning their own vehicle can be challenging due to the perceived loss of independence the private motor vehicle is seen to provide. But an ongoing reliance on privately owned vehicles can place a significant financial burden on low income communities. One potential solution is shared mobility, which has the potential to provide independent transport when needed. It also has the potential to enhance community wellbeing by providing lower per-trip costs, increase options, promote active modes, and encourage social interaction through ‘sharing’. There is, however, little evidence of how this actually impacts the wellbeing of communities.
The ACTIVATION Christchurch project is examining two different communities; a social housing complex and a retirement village; communities with very different demographics. They are both located in Christchurch, are relatively high density developments with reasonable central city access and both have access to shared mobility schemes, albeit with different operation models both of which have experienced some logistical and community challenges. This longitudinal study explores the transport experience of both communities, and seeks to identify the impact of shared mobility on their wellbeing. This paper will outline this research project and present some results.