A long-term aim in transport policy is a paradigm shift that would turn mobility into a service. The objective is that users’ mobility and transportation needs could be easily met under one service agreement. This is a long-term goal in the European transport policy that was supported by Ministerial Round Table discussions on 17 June in Helsinki.
The Round Table of EU Member States on transport was held in connection with ITS Europe 2014 Congress. The meeting was attended by Finland’s Minister of Transport and Local Government Henna Virkkunen and EU Commission Vice-President, responsible for transport, Siim Kallas. Mobility as a service means an overall change in the entire transport system and in the roles of the operators in the transport sector.
It is outlined in the statement that in future, transport modes and services will be widely interoperable. The joint statement of the Ministerial Round Table also emphasised the aim to develop the transport sector into an ecosystem that is based on close cooperation between different actors and on utilisation of information.
This includes transport infrastructure and services as well as information, ICT and payment services in transport. In the new thinking, users play an active role in planning the transport system and new services.
The private sector has responsibility for innovations and service development, whereas the role of the public sector is to enable the change and favourable operating conditions. The technological development that is simultaneously taking place in many sectors makes it possible to turn mobility into a service; wireless broadband, smart phones, other portable smart devices and location services have become more widely used and intelligent cars have entered the markets.
