On 5 June 2026, the GEMINI and UPPER projects joined forces at the European Passengers’ Federation Conference in Maastricht to explore how public transport and shared mobility can work together more effectively for users.
Entitled “Teaming Up for Modal Shift: How Public Transport and Shared Mobility Can Truly Work Together for Users,” the one-hour breakout session was led by Shiva Noori and Pablo Decelis from Cenex, representing GEMINI, together with Juan Caballero from Eurocities, representing UPPER. It formed part of the conference programme dedicated to sustainable, accessible, and user-centred transport in Europe. (EPF Conference)
Following short introductions to the two projects, participants took part in an interactive Mentimeter workshop and an open discussion on the opportunities and challenges associated with integrating shared mobility and public transport.
Making shared mobility more inclusive
One of the main issues raised during the discussion was the accessibility and inclusivity of shared mobility services. Participants noted that shared bicycles are often relatively large and designed around the needs of adult male users, making them less suitable for women, children, and people with different physical requirements.
The discussion highlighted the importance of designing vehicles and services for a broader range of users if shared mobility is to become a genuinely inclusive part of the transport system.
Complementing rather than competing with public transport
Participants also considered the risk that shared mobility could replace public transport, walking, or cycling rather than complement them. The example of Amsterdam was discussed, where some younger users have reportedly replaced active travel and public transport journeys with e-scooter trips.
This underlined the need for cities to establish clear mobility objectives and ensure that shared mobility services are introduced through implementation strategies aligned with those goals.
At the same time, participants recognised the potential of shared mobility to extend the reach of public transport, particularly in suburban and rural areas where conventional services may be less frequent. However, these are also the areas in which commercially viable shared mobility services can be more difficult to operate.
One possible approach discussed was to treat shared bicycles and similar services as part of public transport contracts. This could help public authorities and operators create a broader, more integrated network instead of managing shared mobility as a separate service.
Station-based solutions were also highlighted as a promising model. The success of the Dutch OV-fiets bicycle service was mentioned as an example of how shared bikes located at transport stations can provide a practical and reliable connection for the final part of a journey.
Building integrated mobility around users
The workshop demonstrated that integrating public transport and shared mobility requires more than connecting services through a digital platform. It also depends on inclusive vehicle design, clear public-policy objectives, sustainable business models, effective governance, and close cooperation among authorities, operators, mobility providers, and users.
Through this joint session, GEMINI and UPPER created a valuable opportunity to exchange experiences and identify practical ways in which public transport and shared mobility can reinforce one another. The discussion confirmed that successful integration must begin with users’ needs and contribute to a more accessible, connected, and sustainable European mobility system.