Mobility is a basic need – this was not only emphasised by Christian Schaalo in his keynote speech before the film screening of “A human ride”, but was the focus of the entire evening. According to Schaalo, public transport plays an important role in providing services of general interest. As head of DB Regio’s “Zukunft Nahverkehr” initiative, he and his team are working to make public transport more modern as well as attractive and to make access to mobility fairer for everyone.
For this reason, Deutsche Bahn commissioned the film “A human ride”, in which various people were accompanied on their everyday journeys. The film shows that mobility is a very individual decision, but is nevertheless influenced by external conditions.
The movie picks up on a variety of people’s stories and vividly shows how diverse the basic need for mobility is and what obstacles exist. For example, one family decides not to buy a car and therefore travels many journeys by bike. A pensioner is no longer able to walk well and can only manage his everyday life by car due to a lack of infrastructure, but is afraid of no longer being able to drive at some point. Women with a migrant background who were not allowed to ride a bike in their childhood are relearning this skill and thus gaining a whole new opportunity to participate. A man in a wheelchair experiences daily how his mobility is restricted by non-accessible infrastructure and would like to see an improvement.
Exchange promotes better cooperation in mobility
The subsequent panel discussion, moderated by Peter Schindlecker (Head of ÖBB Innovation), also centred on this diversity. As orchestrator, Claudia Falkinger emphasised the goal of “Community creates Mobility”: to transform mobility by connecting different people. For Ali Mahlodji (protagonist in the film & entrepreneur), public transport is ideal for this, as it not only brings people to their destination, but also brings them closer together. In order for more people to opt for public transport, Christian Schaalo believes that better communication is needed to emphasise the advantages and freedoms of this form of mobility. Ulla Rasmussen (Managing Director of VCÖ) added that public spaces must also be designed in such a way that they facilitate encounters and that children can also be mobile independently.
After the panel discussion, all those present at the Open Innovation Factory at Praterstern in Vienna had the opportunity to exchange ideas, network and think together about a desirable future for mobility.
Curious about the next “Community creates Mobility” events? Then check out our next activities!
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