At the POLIS Conference in November 2025 session “4G. Fighting Fake Freedom: Overcoming Forced Car Ownership”, the Capital Region of Denmark and Rudersdal Municipality shared experiences from Denmark on how shared mobility can move beyond pilot projects and become a tangible, reliable part of everyday transport — also outside dense urban cores.
Our contribution, “Shared mobility in a pre-urban context: From strategic planning to a tangible business model”, addressed a key challenge faced by many European regions: while shared mobility plays an important role in reducing emissions and expanding access to transport, its benefits are often concentrated in large cities where population density supports commercial viability.
In Denmark, we already see strong local examples of shared bikes and cars supporting climate objectives and meeting citizens’ demand for flexible mobility. However, most daily trips — whether by commuters, students, or leisure travellers — cross municipal boundaries. This reality creates a clear need for regional coherence if shared mobility solutions are to function seamlessly and reliably for users.
Over the past few years, shared mobility has evolved from a niche trend into an established transport offer that regions and cities must actively integrate into their transport systems. Yet, outside major urban centres, the business case remains fragile. Experiences from both Danish and international projects show that shared mobility, much like traditional public transport, often requires public support or substitution to be viable in areas with lower demand.
For this reason, we argue that shared mobility should be understood and planned as part of the wider public transport ecosystem — not as a standalone market solution. A strategic, regionally coordinated approach can help ensure that shared mobility services are expanded to suburban areas, commuter rail stations, village centres, and business parks, and that they operate in a consistent and predictable way for users.
Finally, making shared mobility a real alternative to private car ownership requires a cross-sectoral effort at the municipal level. Climate objectives, transport planning, land-use planning, and road management must be aligned. Lessons from Rudersdal Municipality and the Capital Region of Denmark show that a holistic, interdisciplinary approach is essential if shared mobility is to scale beyond pilots and contribute meaningfully to a more inclusive, low-carbon transport system.
Shared mobility is not a silver bullet — but with the right governance, coordination, and integration, it can become a core building block in overcoming forced car ownership and delivering genuine transport freedom.
Presented by Søren Bom, Capital Region of Denmark, Centre for Regional Development & Katrine Vestergaard Petersen, Rudersdal Municipality