Fluidtime Symposium 2019

Cities and regions are opening up the mobility market more and more to new transport services, so there are constantly new private MaaS providers with viable business models. At the same time, citizens and mobility customers show a broad spectrum of different mobility needs and lifestyles. How are new MaaS services entering the public agenda? What incentives or benefits need to be offered to residents to leave their cars behind? And what do travelers expect from MaaS – Will the existing MaaS offering be sufficient to change their mobility behavior? How do we attract long-term users?

With MaaS, the rules are remixed: mobility is reinterpreted, borders become increasingly blurred, mixed forms of mobility emerge. The same applies to the providers of MaaS, who find themselves in their role between private, social, public and profit-oriented. Who can be a MaaS provider and who can’t? Are there rules that are followed in the MaaS ecosystem and who determines them? Does MaaS change depending on the type of provider?

Mobility service providers offer travelers the opportunity to use new means of transport such as e-scooters, but also familiar ones such as public transport in other or combined ways. However, the expansion strategy of new providers does not always fit the agenda of cities and regions. Initial conflicts of interest confirm that different goals are being pursued on both sides, thus blocking the expansion of urban mobility. In order to improve urban mobility, well thought-out mobility offers are needed. But where do they start? How can both sides be satisfied? Do all mobility service providers want to become part of MaaS at all?

Cities and regions are the arena of mobility. At the same time, they are also the playmakers or referees who should make fair competition possible. As soon as their own services are at stake, however, the balance begins to waver. How can fair conditions be created for all market participants? Can cities and regions help others bring new services to market while strengthening their own position as providers? How is it possible to combine the political agenda with a business case?