The high land use by parking or other immobile means of transport causes problems in inner city neighborhoods. In solving these problems, the general mobility patterns of the inhabitants have to be taken into account. Multifaceted mobility offers should also consider cars, for example via car sharing. By better combining the various mobility offers, areas may be reactivated for social and ecological functions.
Urban renewal, air quality planning and integrative transport planning can be combined to improve the quality of the urban life. In doing so, the city uses synergy effects between the related measures. Car sharing plays an important role when relieving inner city neighborhoods from parking pressure. Integrating car sharing into the parking space management of inner city neighborhoods and combining it with other transport modes is an essential element.
Mobility hubs combine a car-sharing station on public street space linked to public transport, cycle routes, bicycle parking, real-time transport information and pedestrian facilities. In May 2018, the city of Bergen celebrated the opening of its first mobility hub. The mobility hub is located in the City’s Møllendal neighborhood and is the first of its kind not only in Bergen but in Norway as a whole. At the moment, there are nine mobility hubs in various stages of planning and implementation in the city. Each of the stations links the basic components mentioned above: spaces for car-sharing on public street space, bicycle parking, easy pedestrian access, and where possible, a close proximity to public transport stops. Bergen is also meeting the demand of modern, integrated planning and tailoring each mobility hub to meet the needs of the neighborhood in question. In the Møllenpris neighborhood, for instance, the mobility hub also includes underground trash collection facilities and bicycle hangers that can be rented by residents for the purpose of parking high-priced bicycles such as pedelecs/e-bikes. Several of the stations will include spaces for vehicles of more than one car-sharing provider.
