# Conscious Mobility for Urban Spaces: Case Studies Review and Indicator Framework Design
## 4 Case Studies
### Columbus: Autonomous Vehicles for Equity  
In 2016, the city of Columbus, Ohio, won the first U.S. Smart City Challenge created by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). Within their proposal, they recognized the challenges to disadvantage communities such as the neighborhoods of Linden that lack of transportation services presented. Linden and other similar neighborhoods had restricted access to quality jobs, health, and other basic services and also did not have the resources to use any private transportation service [49]. In addition, due to the high unemployment rate, the infant mortality rate was three times higher than anywhere else in the county.  
As an improvement proposal, it was decided to create a network of connected electric autonomous vehicles (CEAVs) that would link these neighborhoods with the closest job centers, such as downtown Easton [49], which is one of the largest job centers in Ohio. This service would be provided through a smart card that was used to cover bus fees and car-sharing services, improving the economic integration of several families and enhancing the accessibility to health services and other essential services.  
Through the implementation of the first autonomous shuttles (i.e., LEAP Shuttle), the Smart Columbus initiative was created, led by the city government and 2 mobility companies, May Mobility and EasyMile [50]. This initiative has the purpose of demonstrating how safe, clean mobility for all [49] can improve the life quality of its users. Within the initiative, a network of parallel projects was created [51], mostly focused on the Linden community, in which mobility strategies were proposed to address social problems using technology, which range from giving pregnant women access to health services and food (Prenatal Trip Assistance), as well as the creation of various apps to improve daily life (Smart Columbus Operating System) and programs for the distribution of masks and meals during the pandemic through the CEAVs initiative.  
An accessibility analysis [52] found that travelers originating at the Linden Transit Center can now reach at least 20,000 additional jobs and 3000 additional healthcare services within 30 min; this represents a clear improvement compared to travel time and accessibility to services before the introduction of the Smart Columbus projects. Beyond the tangible assets created by the grant, The Ohio State University calculated the investments from the implementation of the USDOT award generated an estimated gross metropolitan product (GMP) of USD 173.39 million and generated or induced 2366 jobs.  
With the implementation of the Smart Columbus initiative, this demonstration project proved that salient equity issues faced by local vulnerable population communities can be addressed by providing state-of-the-art transportation systems to enhance access and mobility. Showing with performance metrics that novel integrated transportation options can empower residents to have a better quality of life. In this way, their ability to connect social problems with specific, measurable technological solutions is recognized [53]. Even though the project concluded its operation on April 2021, it is classified as a stage 2 (breakthrough stage) project of conscious mobility, where cutting-edge technologies are embraced by a community aware of their positive impacts and also part of the solution. The project further the pilot test enhancing food delivery during COVID-19 was not explored, but its aim demonstrates again the conscious mobility nature of its program goals [50].