After Safe Drive Zones, the next BMW and Rotterdam pilot is about to start. Smart City Travel focuses on motorists who (regularly) drive from outside to the city center of Rotterdam. BMW, Rotterdam and Erasmus University Rotterdam are investigating ways in which motorists can be tempted to park their car at a P+R on the outskirts of the city and continue the last part of their journey by public transport or shared transport.
“We want to learn what it takes to motivate BMW drivers to first make this smart choice in advance and then actually switch when an alternative mode is actively offered. By offering potentially healthier, cheaper and faster alternative transport from the edge of the center, we contribute to the quality of life in the city.”
After entering the destination in the BMW navigation (or BMW pilot app), the participant is asked via the central display in the car whether he/she wants to use alternative transport. If the participant agrees, the system checks in the background the availability of a parking space at the P+R, which is then automatically booked. If a shared bike is chosen, it is immediately reserved and the MOBIAN app is not necessary for booking and payment. If you opt for a felyx shared scooter, its availability is also checked at the selected P+R. Booking is then done via the felyx app.
“The approach of BMW and Rotterdam is unique. With this pilot we connect the motorist directly to the shared transport providers. For example, we not only test how the chain journey can be technically as smooth as possible, but also in what way and with what message we can entice the motorist to switch. In this way we are working towards a healthier city.”
Collaboration with MOBIAN and felyx
MOBIAN offers its shared bicycles at so-called MobiHubs. In Rotterdam this can be found at the Van Nelle Factory and for this pilot also at Slinge, Kralingse Zoom and Meijersplein. In the future, the offer will be expanded to at least ten locations on the outskirts of the city with a total of 100 shared bicycles. felyx in turn offers shared electric scooters on a ride basis. These have no fixed location, can be found in large numbers throughout the city and can easily be booked via an app. If the BMW driver chooses the scooter share option, the BMW will navigate to a P+R where a felyx scooter share is available.
Would you like to participate in the Smart City Travel pilot?
By participating in the BMW-Rotterdam pilots, BMW drivers have the unique opportunity to actively help develop the mobility of the future. The pilot is open to fuel-driven BMW models (i.e. no PHEV or EV) from year 2018 and equipped with the OS7 operating system. These BMW drivers can register via BMW Labs where the BMW ID automatically checks whether the linked BMW is suitable for participation in the pilot, which will start at the beginning of May. Participation is highly appreciated.
Collaboration since 2018
A safe, healthy and liveable city is high on the agenda of the municipality of Rotterdam. This requires a new vision of future mobility, in which sustainability, road safety, accessibility and traffic flow play an important role. BMW and Rotterdam have been working together since 2018 to realize these shared ambitions.
