The most successful measures are those where extensive demand analysis or user requirements consultation was undertaken and where co-design formed a key element of the process.
Properly understanding the needs, wishes and capabilities of target users avoids developing / delivering solutions that are not compatible with users’ way and pace of life.
Co-design needs to include all stakeholders involved in the solution and not just the end users.
Building partnerships and providing one-to-one support are essential for increasing user awareness, confidence and capability, leading to greater uptake.
Partnerships should be established with local businesses and community organisations who work with vulnerable users and can direct or refer suitable vulnerable users to the new mobility service.
Local champions are essential, especially for solutions where extra support and building partnerships in the community are required (e.g. Bike shop owners, Migrant support workers).
ICT solutions can play an important role if the needs and skills of vulnerable people are fully comprehended.
Involve vulnerable users in co-designing the tools from the start:
ensuring users’ specific needs are accommodated in the solution;
builds familiarity and trust in the technology.
ICT should be there to streamline and supplement the human touch, where this adds convenience for the target group in question.
The human element of delivering mobility solutions is especially important for socially isolated vulnerable user groups.
The public sector has a role to play through financing, monitoring, assuring quality and safety.
Public-Private Partnerships (or Public-Community Partnerships) often provide the best means of delivering solutions, where public sector funding initiates new services which can then be operated at a lower cost by private or not-for-profit organisations.
The public sector funding provides the leverage to ensure vulnerable user needs are catered for and they can benefit from the schemes, whilst safety and security of users (and their personal data) is enforced.
The private sector or community organisations also add value by increasing promotion and engagement within the local community.
