Just Cycle MRA! Inclusive access to carbon-free mobility in the Metropolitan Region Amsterdam

A project by Larissa Böhrkircher, Laura Brings, Marie-Theres Kewitz, Sophie H. Knoop and Stephanie Tannberger

Integrated Project III

Lecturers: Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Christa Reicher, Univ.-Prof. Dr. Jakob Beetz and Dr. ir. Ceren Sezer

winter semester 2020/21

The main goal of the project ‚Just Cycle MRA!‘ is to provide just access to cycling for all inhabitants of the Metropolitan Region Amsterdam (MRA). Thereby the transformation to become carbon-neutral by 2040 is supported. It is the goal to integrate the cycling system further into an intermodal and just transport system. To support the transformation into a just mobility system, a concept developed by Mimi Sheller (2018) is used and adapted for the MRA. It includes the definition of actors, their needs, strategies to meet those needs, as well as the implementation of those strategies into the planning process.

The main strategy used in this project is an online participation tool. The students programmed an interactive website prototype. Using open source code, they developed an API, interactive components and controllers using javascript and html. It combines interaction, data collection and data provision from the different levels of urban planning, as well as citizens’ input. The website collects the comments and suggestions of the citizens and at the same time makes them and the current planning status in the region visible to everyone. In addition, it provides thematic synthesis maps, which present data concerning just and carbon-free mobility. 

This is intended to promote a higher level of transparency in the planning process and a productive exchange between many stakeholders. The goal is to generate trust, a maximum acceptance and, through this, work jointly on the transformation of the MRA towards just and carbon-free mobility.