Mobility is the ability to move freely and easily. It means that people can safely and affordably move between where they work, live, shop, and spend their free time. And do it at a time that is convenient for them. Mobility is not a service or something you do. It is something that you have.
Transportation and mobility are not the same things. Transportation is the act of moving people or goods from A to B. It usually includes something that helps to do the moving, like a car, bus, plane, or ship. Mobility, on the other hand, can also include the ability to walk between work and home. Transportation helps to enable mobility when transportation products and services take into account the habits, needs, and preferences of the users.
To have mobility, people need to have access to multi-modal transportation options that take them to their destination at a convenient time. These options can include public transportation but also car, bike, or scooter sharing. Movement between places also needs to be efficient, affordable, and safe. For example, if there is a convenient highway but you can’t afford a car, then you don’t have mobility.
Another important keyword of mobility is sustainability since transportation has a great effect on the environment. Because of this, modes of movement like walking, biking, and sharing are becoming more and more important and also popular.
Enabling mobility to its people is in part the job of the government – managing public transportation and building roads, pavements, and bike lanes. But the involvement of the private sector is also important. Private companies can offer movement enabling services like car rental and sharing, bike and scooter sharing, and ride-hailing and -sharing. These modes of services all support the mobility of people and promote sustainability.
