Bucharest gathers stakeholders to discuss shared mobility

The Bucharest-Ilfov Regional Development Agency (BI RDA) has organized the 1st stakeholders meeting with regional actors within the SMAPE project.

The event brought together representatives of central and local public institutions from the Bucharest-Ilfov region in the field of mobility and representatives of academia, research and civil society, such as the Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration, Bucharest City Hall, Intercommunity Development Association for Public Transport Bucharest – Ilfov (TPBI), Politehnica University of Bucharest, Ilfov Environmental Protection Energy, Blinkee City, Green Revolution, among others.

During this event, various subjects took center stage:

The event commenced with a discussion on the Agency's evolving mission and objectives as it assumed the role of Managing Authority for the Regional Programme for Bucharest-Ilfov 2021-2027. Participants also conducted a comprehensive review of the Regional Programme, examining priority axes and financing for associated actions.

The characteristics of the Interreg Europe Program 2021-2027 were explored, including its objectives, thematic focuses, budget, eligible beneficiaries, application processes, and expected outcomes. Additionally, insights were shared about the SMAPE project, including its implementation timeline, partnership structure, core objectives, planned activities, identification of stakeholders in the Bucharest-Ilfov region, and the engagement approach employed.

Throughout the discussions, stakeholders and the BI RDA team placed particular emphasis on key topics:

• The significance of disseminating best practices related to shared mobility among partners and actively involving stakeholders in identifying relevant best practices.
• The expression of substantial demand for shared mobility services by operators within the shared mobility sector.
• The recognition of a lack of support and financial incentives from authorities, coupled with a pressing need to transform the Romanian mindset regarding car sharing and bike sharing.
• The ongoing development of regulations for electric scooters in Bucharest, with plans for approval by year-end.

This event provided an opportunity for an open dialogue, fostering a constructive exchange of ideas and best practices within the shared mobility domain. It underscored the crucial role of collaboration in shaping future policies in this sector.

Stakeholder meetings are one of the driving forces behind the SMAPE approach, forging connections among diverse stakeholders in the development of shared mobility policies. In this series of articles, we'll explore various stakeholder meetings, each a vital piece of the puzzle in reshaping shared mobility policies.