Smart and Accessible Platform-based Mobility Solutions for Persons with Reduced Mobility: The Case of Flanders
Creators: name: Tanriverdi, Ülkü
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023

description: The wave of digitalization in the mobility and transport sector and the combination of technological and business model innovations enabled the emergence of the so-called "smart" platform-based mobility solutions. These solutions allow users access to shared vehicles (e.g., e-scooters, cars, bikes, steps) and mobility services (ride-hailing offered by Transport Network Companies such as UBER and Lyft, and car-pooling) by using the Internet, smartphones, and apps via a digital platform (Crozet, 2020).
The policy and academic discourse on platform-based mobility solutions are centered around their potential to bring about environmental sustainability in urban mobility. The social sustainability of these solutions is, however, less prevailing. More specifically, the accessibility of platform-based mobility solutions for various vulnerable groups in society, especially persons with disabilities and the elderly (hereinafter I refer to these individuals in a more generic manner, namely 'persons with reduced mobility') is problematic. More importantly, there is a gap in the regulatory framework regarding the accessibility of platform-based mobility solutions compared to the European passenger rights scheme for traditional modes of transport. Indeed, European legislation provides passengers with reduced mobility with certain rights, such as the right to transport, information, assistance free of charge, and compensation, to ensure that these persons have equal access to air transport (Regulation (EC) No 1107/2006), rail transport (Regulation (EC) No 1371/2007), bus and coach transport (Regulation (EU) No 181/2011) and maritime and inland waterway transport (Regulation (EU) No 1177/2010). In the absence of a regulatory framework for platform-based mobility solutions, the task of ensuring the access of persons with reduced mobility is left to the voluntary efforts of private service providers. 
Platform-based mobility are often offered by profit-oriented private companies, and therefore, they may not immediately be concerned with societal interests, such as accessibility and inclusivity. Moreover, the reconciliation of societal interests with commercial interests may be difficult in some cases (Docherty et al., 2018), particularly when the provision of accessible services creates additional costs with little to no financial return. Therefore, there is a grave risk of further exclusion of these vulnerable groups from mobility in the absence of adequate regulatory frameworks.
In my paper, I address the accessibility challenges of platform-based mobility solutions for persons with reduced mobility in Flanders. More specifically, I map and evaluate to what extent accessibility challenges of persons with reduced mobility are sufficiently reflected in the regulatory framework in Flanders within the context of platform-based mobility solutions. This analysis is based on the empirical research, that is started in June 2023 and ongoing, with 300 Flemish municipalities where I collect regulations and public contracts with respect to micromobility, car-sharing, and ride-hailing services. At the moment the seminar is scheduled, I expect to complete the data collection process and to have carried out a provisional analysis and evaluation of the rules from the policy perspective identified at the European level to provide a high level of protection and to safeguard accessibility for persons with reduced mobility. Thus, I identify gaps and inadequacies in the existing regulatory frameworks in Flanders and prepare some provisional recommendations and proposals for addressing these gaps.