3rd EMBRACER Regional Stakeholders Meeting in Cork!

The Environmental Forum and the Transport and Mobility Forum (TMF), in partnership with Cork County Council, will host ‘Mix Your Mode’, an annual public seminar aimed at promoting the adoption of alternative and more sustainable transportation modes. This year, the seminar will explore the theme, 'How Mobile are Rural and Urban Edge Places?', delving into the mobility challenges encountered by regional communities.
The aim of the seminar is to inform and foster discussion on innovative and sustainable transportation solutions that can connect people and bolster economic, academic, and social opportunities in these areas.

TMF Coordinator Dr Darren McAdam O’Connell of The Environmental Forum states that, "It's not cities that have suffered the most from car-centric planning rather it's at the urban edge where it has become more and more difficult to live your life without driving or being driven. This has huge costs in time money and health consequences for these communities who have a right to access services and amenities without the cost and delay of long drives. Independence is deferred for the young and isolation becomes a reality for many as they age".

Dr McAdam O’Connell will commence the seminar by shedding light on regional mobility challenges that exist and will introduce and discuss TMF’s involvement as Cork’s regional stakeholders for the EU Interreg EMBRACER project fostering interregional learning to improve transportation and connectivity in seven underserved regions.

During the seminar, attendees will have the opportunity to learn about innovative projects such as the Young Social Innovators' Ignite project, 'The Bad Weather Bus,' which explores alternative transportation solutions for students to enhance attendance during adverse weather conditions.

Lucy Normoyle of Gaelchólaiste Mhic Shuibhne explains the difficulties that some students face when engaging in active travel during bad weather: "We're a group of students who are passionate about walking but also passionate about not getting wet on those very wet days. We've noticed that the weather has gotten a lot wetter recently and walking is not the problem, the problem is that adults assume everyone has a car, wants to use it and everything is planned around that. Not everyone has a car, we want to keep walking so we have tried to come up with solutions that work for walkers not drivers."

Additionally, winners of the 2024 BT Young Scientist award, Matthew Daly and Rory Maguire, will present their project, 'How Green are the Local GAA Clubs?'. This research delves into the need for sustainable transportation options by examining the clubs’ carbon footprints.

Dr Annalisa Setti from the School of Applied Psychology, UCC will then introduce the ‘Step Up’ project which aims to create a technology solution that targets middle-aged and older demographics and raise awareness of walking benefits. An app will enable users to monitor activity levels and correlate them with mood and cognitive performance, tailored to users and their walking locations. Data collected will offer policymakers valuable insights into ideal walking environments.

Following the presentations, participants will engage in a dynamic World Café segment, where they will discuss topics such as connectivity enhancements for underserved communities, mobility challenges for rural clubs and schools, and the role of local authorities in urban planning. Stephan Koch, TMF Chairperson from UCC, will conclude the seminar with closing remarks.

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After lunch, members of the TMF will reconvene for the 3rd EMBRACER Regional Stakeholders Meeting. Dr Lorraine Darcy, Sustainability Action Research & Innovation Lead from Technological University Dublin, will remotely join to share insights from her research on the impact of streets, neighbourhood design, and social determinants on transport and health behaviours. The meeting will conclude with collaborative discussion investigating and integrating the findings from Mix Your Mode into strategic planning initiatives under the goals of EMBRACER.

Check the agenda for the EMBRACER Regional Stakeholder Meeting here