Collaborative mobility: what it is, how it works and examples

Collaborative mobility covers different ways of travelling that involve sharing vehicles, journeys or mobility resources. Instead of everyone needing their own vehicle for every trip, these models make different transport options available on a shared basis.

Examples include carpooling, or sharing a car, carsharing, and shared bikes and scooters, among other solutions. They all aim to make better use of available resources, although they do not work in the same way. This Waiis guide explains what you need to know about collaborative mobility.

What is collaborative mobility?

Collaborative mobility is a model based on sharing access to transport resources or services rather than relying exclusively on vehicles for individual use.

The idea is connected to the sharing economy, which promotes shared access to goods and services instead of exclusive ownership. In transport, this can mean sharing a journey, using a vehicle for a set period or accessing shared modes of transport.

Collaborative mobility is therefore not one specific service, but an umbrella concept covering different forms of mobility.

Shared mobility vs collaborative mobility: are they the same?

Shared mobility and collaborative mobility are closely related terms, but they do not always mean exactly the same thing.

Shared mobility refers to models in which several people share the use of a vehicle or a journey. With carpooling, people travel together; with carsharing, different users use vehicles from a shared fleet at different times.

Collaborative mobility can be understood as a broader concept involving cooperation between users, companies and platforms to make shared mobility resources easier to access and use.

In practice, the two concepts overlap, and many initiatives can be considered both shared and collaborative mobility.

How is it related to the sharing economy?

The sharing economy applied to transport aims to make resources available to different people. Instead of every user needing their own vehicle, collaborative platforms and services such as Waiis enable people to share journeys, vehicles and other mobility resources.

Technology plays an important role by helping users connect, vehicles get booked and services get managed. In some cases, it can also identify people with compatible travel needs.

How does collaborative mobility work?

There is no single way it works, because the process depends on the service. However, most collaborative mobility models rely on three elements:

1. Users with a mobility need, such as travelling to work or using a vehicle for a few hours.

2. A shared resource, which could be a journey, car, bicycle, scooter or another mode of transport.

3. A platform or service that enables people to connect, book or manage that resource.

For example, a carpooling platform can connect people making compatible journeys. With carsharing, technology helps users find and book an available vehicle. In this way, collaborative mobility makes different transport options accessible without requiring everyone to own a vehicle for every trip.

Examples of collaborative mobility

There are different collaborative mobility models for both urban travel and regular journeys.

Carpooling or sharing a car

Carpooling means sharing a journey with people whose route is compatible. One person usually provides the car, and passengers can share the costs. It is especially useful for regular journeys, such as commuting to work or university. Platforms such as Waiis help connect people with compatible routes and schedules.

Carsharing

Carsharing lets people use a company vehicle for as long as they need it. Users find and book available cars and pay for their usage. Unlike carpooling, there is no need to share the journey with another person. The aim is to access a car without buying or owning one.

Shared bikes and scooters

Shared bikes and scooters allow different users to use the same vehicles at different times. Usually, a user finds a vehicle, unlocks it through an app and pays according to the service terms. This model is common in urban areas and can complement other forms of transport.

Multimodal platforms

Multimodal platforms bring different mobility options together in one digital service. They can combine public transport with bikes, carsharing or carpooling, helping users combine modes of transport to suit each journey.

What are the benefits of collaborative mobility?

Benefits depend on the model, but sharing vehicles and journeys can help make mobility resources more efficient.

For individuals, it can:

• Provide access to different transport options without always relying on a privately owned vehicle.

• In carpooling, help people share the cost of a journey.

• Make journeys easier where public transport alternatives are limited.

For cities and organisations, these models can also support more efficient use of vehicles and complement wider sustainable mobility measures.