Hub Gemert-Bakel!

Soon you won't be able to ignore it in Gemert: the pop-up hub at the library. With shared bicycles, shared scooters and parking spaces. Realized with Brainport Bereikbaar's lightning-fast field lab approach. Do you want that too? Read on quick!

In the easternmost part of the Brainport region you will find the municipality of Gemert-Bakel. A beautiful, extensive rural community. They probably don't have many mobility challenges there. However? Nothing could be further from the truth, says Mobility policy advisor Joke Manders from the municipality of Gemert-Bakel. 'We have no trains here and the main road network no longer matches the amount of traffic. So many people take the car, and we notice that every day in terms of accessibility and CO²emissions.'

Mobility hubs also have a social importance

The municipality wants to change that. And that delivers more than just better accessibility. “Work will soon be carried out on various public transport junctions in Gemert,” Joke continues. 'And that is a clear moment to look further into the mobility future of the municipality.' So it was no coincidence that a colleague of Joke started talking to Hubs and Shared Mobility project leader Jacco Philippo during the Brainport Bereikbaar event. Jacco says: 'Our project objective is not only to increase the accessibility of the region. Mobility is also of social importance. Offering the right forms of (partial) mobility and connection with public transport makes the world bigger. Also for more vulnerable groups. What also contributes is finding the right mix of facilities. Examples of this are a water tap, parcel wall or a charging point for the bicycle or car. In this way we create relevance for users, with the higher goal that people will leave their car at home. In this way we also respond to the objectives of Brainport Bereikbaar; avoid, spread out and drive differently.'

Fast field lab approach

To quickly put this into practice, Brainport Bereikbaar offers a Field Lab approach. Jacco: 'The initial user is central: the traveler. The special thing about this approach is that we go straight into practice. By becoming visible on the street and in the neighborhood and thinking and acting based on an experiment. We validate and test in practice so that we learn by doing. We don't build something that is too big or too small. Once the pop-up has done its job at location A, we move it to location B. By having an open dialogue with everyone involved, we discover together what the wishes and needs are. We implement suggestions and the dialogue provides involvement and ownership and prevents investments in matters that yield (too) little results.'

Library as possible hub location

In Gemert, for example, people confirmed that they saw the library as a hub location. Joke adds: 'That fits perfectly with our desire to really work together with our residents on our accessibility and sustainability. Through the Field Lab we see residents realizing that their ideas are valued. And that together as a municipality you can really contribute to better accessibility and a sustainable and vital living environment.

A hub is not a hub

Jacco: 'What happens here can be an example for others. Here we can show what works in South-East Brabant so that other municipalities can get a head start. And that is necessary, because one hub is not a hub. That is why we are working on a network of local and regional hubs. Joke agrees: 'I am also mobility coordinator for the East subregion, which includes ten municipalities. With these hubs we can show the rest of the (sub)region what opportunities this offers. That is why I promote this approach to other regional municipalities.' Jacco: 'And for those who read this: you are cordially invited to call me!'