Pop-up mobility hub gears up in Nottingham

CoMoUK aims to encourage active travel and access to work

Nottingham residents will be able to enjoy a free programme of active travel activities at the city’s first pop-up mobility hub.

The temporary transport hub at Victoria Embankment is being installed and operated by national shared transport charity Collaborative Mobility UK (CoMoUK).

The 'hublet' will act as a base for a series of active travel activities, encouraging local residents to walk, wheel or cycle more for local journeys, rather than relying on private cars.

There will also be a special emphasis on helping those not in work, education or training to access low-cost travel options.

The mobility hub will remain in place on the bank of the River Trent for six weeks from May 19, before being moved to different parts of the city over the course of the summer.

Mobility hubs bring together a range of transport options and community services in a single, attractive place, making it easier for people to travel without a car.

Placed strategically in key travel corridors, they can seamlessly connect schemes such as shared bikes and car clubs with public transport and other active travel options.

The mobility hub concept is already widely applied in many European and North American cities and is growing in popularity in the UK.

Richard Dilks, chief executive at CoMoUK, said: “We’re very excited about the launch of our new pop-up mobility hub in Nottingham, and look forward to hearing how it is received by local residents.

“These small, simple and flexible pieces of transport infrastructure are brilliant at getting people to try active travel options, and they also have a lovely community feel to them.

“They reclaim space for sustainable, green and convenient modes of transport that is usually taken up by private cars, as well as helping to cut traffic congestion and carbon emissions.

“Permanent mobility hubs which give people easy access to shared bikes, e-scooters, and car clubs can also create seamless links with public transport.”

The Victoria Embankment hub, situated near 1881 Café, will feature a small, moveable, modular parklet with space for planting, seating, bike parking and a bike repair stand.

Local charities RideWise and Runspire are running activities including guided bike rides and walks, free bike maintenance classes and safety checks, and cycle training.

There will also be a series of ‘build a bike’ sessions for people not in work, education or training, with participants able to take their finished bikes home to help them travel to job interviews or attend courses.

Those aged 18 or over will also be able to try out Lime e-bikes, learn about Nottingham’s travel planning app Ride, and pick up free cycle maps.

The hub is linked with Nottingham City Council’s Travel Well project, where GPs refer patients to services promoting active travel to improve their mental and physical health.

As well as aiming to make people more active, it also supports others to manage long-term health conditions and addresses issues such as social isolation.

The CoMoUK pop-up mobility hub project was made possible through a grant from the £1m Active Travel Innovation Fund, which is administered by Active Travel England.

Cllr Linda Woodings, executive member for regional development, growth and transport at Nottingham City Council, said: “We’re really excited for the opening of the first pop-up hub in Nottingham, which we hope lots of people will enjoy using over the summer as it moves around our city.

“We already do a great deal here to encourage people, whenever they can, to leave their cars at home and instead take advantage of the miles of dedicated cycle paths we have in Nottingham, or simply enjoy a walk in the fresh air.

“It fits in perfectly with our popular and established Travel Well scheme, which supports people to become more active, boost their mental and physical wellbeing, and manage long-term health conditions or address social isolation.”

Tiffany Bieeu, community project manager at RideWise, said: “RideWise is delighted to support the pop-up mobility hub at Victoria Embankment and we’re really looking forward to meeting members of the local community over the coming weeks.

“Through guided rides, cycle training, bike maintenance sessions and access to e-bikes, we hope to help more people discover accessible, affordable ways to travel actively and build confidence cycling for everyday journeys.

“We’re especially pleased to support opportunities that help remove transport barriers for people accessing employment, training and community activities.”