3.6. Rural mobility hubs
Delivering mobility hubs in more rural locations
Gaining buy-in from the local community can help make a mobility hub a success.
Active community involvement in the running of hubs may be more common in smaller settlements, than in larger urban areas. In community-run hubs, there is likely to be an increased emphasis on components that provide benefit to the local community. CoMoUK’s guidance makes reference to the management of hubs by community interest companies (CIC). The CIC is operated by local individuals to ensure that the hub services prioritise local needs.
Rural, community run hubs can feature different services to those found in urban areas, one example being car sharing services. In rural areas, residents sometimes use the hub as a location to share vehicles with each other. This approach can help reduce the level of private vehicle ownership in the area. Another example is digital demand responsive transport (DDRT). A DDRT service, provided via an app, lets users arrange transport in areas where scheduled public transport services don’t currently operate. DDRT services are currently being offered in both Aberdeenshire and rural Stirlingshire. Examples of leaflets advertising these services can be seen in the images below.
Community hubs can also host outreach activities by offering pop-up event spaces. The engaging the community section of the guidance provides further information on the benefits of in-person community engagement.
Pages 16 and 17 of CoMoUK’s guidance on mobility hub delivery models, provide an overview of the potential components of a village/community mobility hub.
