HiReach project

Innovative mobility solutions to cope with transport poverty

Transport poverty is a condition in which individuals or communities lack the mobility necessary to take part in civic, social and economic activities.

HiReach sets out to address gaps in mobility and improve accessibility for vulnerable communities by developing new tools and business models. ‘Bundling and mixing’ of trip requests from vulnerable transport user groups will be studied has a means to move from exclusive and geographically-limited mobility to an inclusive and participatory approach.

Eight vulnerable user groups and six study regions are identified by the project. HiReach will use 18 focus group workshops to identify the challenges faced by these user groups in their particular region.

Vulnerable user groups:

People with temporarily or permanent reduced mobility
Children and young people
Elderly people
Women
Migrants and ethnic minorities
Low income and unemployed
People living in rural and deprived areas

Study Regions:

Luxembourg – North and Southeast areas
Germany – Esslingen and Goppingen
Portugal – Guarda and Torres Vedras
Romania – Buzau
Italy – Southern Salento inner area
Greece – Naxos and Small Cyclades

In order to effectively target these vulnerable user groups living in the study regions above, HiReach will study the efficacy of existing transport concepts and bottom-up initiatives alongside innovative concepts such as Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) and new IT solutions such as mobile apps. HiReach will also study viable business models for mobility services that are easily replicable and can be provided at affordable prices and/or with minimum subsidies.

IRU's role

IRU will analyse the relevant legal and regulatory frameworks for passenger mobility to define the transport domain where HiReach activities should focus. IRU will consult with new and traditional transport operators with a view to those vulnerable communities who do not enjoy full access to traditional transport options. In this way, IRU’s research and Innovation team contributes to the identification of new mobility options to suit the needs of vulnerable user groups, and also to the dissemination of strategies and recommendations based on the HiReach studies which can be employed by transport operators to help vulnerable communities cope with limited access to traditional transport options.

Project results

HiReach will develop new business models for inclusive mobility solutions following a user-centric approach, including informal ride-sharing, community transport services, innovative ride-hailing mobility services, and on-demand flexible public transport. The project will develop an insights package with solutions to transport poverty, developed specifically for startups.

A Startup Lab will also help new startups benefit from follow-up periods, including a one-week follow-up for 20 startups and in-depth three-month follow-ups for 5 startups.