In its final year, the SINFONICA project has made significant progress towards its vision of inclusive and accessible automated public and shared transport systems in Europe that leave no one behind. The project partners have developed recommendations and guidelines for inclusive mobility. This is based on input from 290 interviews and 36 focus groups conducted within the project’s four Groups of Interest in Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. To further refine these recommendations, a public workshop was held at the ERTICO office, bringing together various stakeholders for insightful discussions.
Based on an extensive literature review of about 40 projects in Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility (CCAM) alongside insights from various workshops and interviews with a wide range of stakeholders, SINFONICA has developed a series of recommendations designed for user-friendly and inclusive automated mobility. Placing special focus on people with special mobility needs, the recommendations cover key aspects related to passenger service, information and communication with users and the general public, service planning, and the vehicles and their operations.
SINFONICA guidelines for more inclusive mobility
In terms of communication with users, the guidelines emphasise the need for assistance systems that are both reliable and easy to use independently. The need for clear and accessible information using various formats such as tactile, audio, and visual formats is also highlighted, as well as the importance of training on-site and remote staff to offer support and reassurance, particularly to users who are less confident in their travel. During emergencies, robust communication systems should be implemented, including alternatives to traditional intercoms and with real-time monitoring. The active involvement of people with special mobility needs is essential in the design process of automated vehicles to ensure these services meet their needs.
For policy makers communicating with the general public, the project guidance focuses on raising awareness of the benefits of automated services, encouraging active citizen participation and feedback, and using targeted campaigns that highlight the tangible benefits of these services. The aim is to address any potential concerns and communicate in a transparent and accessible way while highlighting the improvements offered by these new services such as efficiency, environmental impact and safety.
Regarding service delivery, the project suggests that automated systems should be as close as possible to conventional public or shared transport. Special consideration should be given to ticketing, fare payment, and booking methods that accommodate users who may not have access to smartphones. This approach is intended to maintain the level of service expected by users while offering added value.
When it comes to vehicles and operations, adherence to national accessibility standards as a minimum, clear communication of operational roles, and the integration of user safety features such as real-time travel updates and monitoring systems should be prioritised by policy makers. The vehicle configuration should be based on service speed, the type of roads the service operates on, and passenger frequency, to ensure that the transition to fully automated services does not compromise the quality or safety of the journey.
Insights from the public workshop in Brussels
These recommendations were the focus of two recent workshops held in Den Bosch (Netherlands) in January and in Brussels in February 2025. Open to all interested stakeholders, the workshops represented a perfect platform for open discussions to further refine the recommendations and discuss any additional points that the project should consider.
At the Brussels workshop, hosted at the ERTICO office (with some online participants), Andrew Winder, Senior Manager and ERTICO lead in the project, presented the recommendations and moderated these exchanges together with Silvia Gaggi from Isinnova. Participants discussed challenges such as building public trust in CCAM services, the necessity of intuitive booking and accessible payment methods (including onboard options), and the importance of ensuring assistance is available for people with special needs. The exchanges also covered the need to cater to diverse groups by providing tangible benefits and safety measures that reassure potential users.
Supporting public authorities and service providers with SINFONICA’s findings
The recommendations will soon be available through the SINFONICA Knowledge Map Explorer, an innovative tool designed to guide public authorities, service providers, and other stakeholders in developing and deploying inclusive CCAM-based services that respond to real user needs. By incorporating insights from diverse target groups, the tool will support the development of more inclusive mobility solutions. During the workshops, participants had the opportunity to test the tool firsthand and provide direct feedback that contributed to its refinement. The tool is currently being finalised and will be released in summer 2025.
