The Viewpoint of Sue Zielinski

In response to global urbanization and a mix of other emerging trends and challenges, New Mobility is emerging to supply seamless, door-to-door, multi-modal, IT-enhanced, sustainable, and socially equitable regional transportation (or, in a nutshell "Open Source Transportation"). If we're really going to take transportation to the next exciting level, policy, investment, and action need to embrace and incorporate (at least) three essential and related elements:

To offer safe, affordable, sustainable and seamless door-to-door trips, we need to connect and combine the range of new and existing modes, services, technologies and design. We also need to connect the various dots that support a seamless flow of goods and services and labor. This dot-connecting needs to be not only physical and spatial (community and transport planning, land use and design), but also technological (integrated multi-modal fare payment and wayfinding, etc.), and institutional (across industry sectors as well asgovernment levels and departments, including Public-Private innovation).

We transport ourselves in order to meet needs. Transportation is not the need. Yet, so far, we've measured the success of our transportation systems based on how far and how fast they move us, not on how well they help us meet our various needs with the resources we have (accessibility). So the goal is accessibility rather than simple mobility.

This involves putting in place a vital network or grid of New Mobility Hubs, places that connect a whole range of transport amenities including buses, trains, taxis, etc. and in some cases shops and entertainment. This is all brought together by a mobile phone that offers real-time information on arrival and departure times and allows you to quickly and easily pay for these modes and services with a single wave past the reader. You can physically transfer seamlessly from one mode of transportation to the other, informed of schedules and options all the way, using the best mode for the purpose. It's easy, it's convenient, it's affordable and it's 21st century.