Travelling smart with pop up hub
Mobility support in Denny
Residents in Denny are being encouraged to make greener and more affordable local journeys with a new town centre pop-up mobility hub.
National shared transport charity Collaborative Mobility UK (COMOUK) has installed the hub on Stirling Street as part of a wider £100,000 project to boost active travel, including cycling.
Mobility hubs bring together shared, public and active travel modes, along with community facilities, and redesign and reallocate space away from the private car.
Widely adopted in cities across Europe and North America, they are becoming increasingly popular in the UK.
The hubs offer sustainable and practical solutions for addressing “first and last mile” connectivity challenges and curbing private car use.
The pop-up, or ‘parklet,’ in Denny is the size of one large car and is designed to convert parking areas into a community space with a short-access textured ramp for ease of use.
The structure, measuring six meters by two meters, is wheelchair-accessible and incorporates hardwood timber planting and seating.
It has two bicycle racks, a bike repair stand, and a pump.
Additionally, there’s an information totem with a QR code linking to a COMOUK website page. This page provides details about sustainable transport options in the local area.
COMOUK has received a total of £106,504 from the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places Active Nation fund for this and another popup in a seven-month initiative.
They will tour areas affected by transport poverty, where individuals struggle to access essential services or employment due to a lack of affordable transport options.
According to the Poverty and Inequality Commission, there is a relationship between areas of deprivation and fewer transport options, with Transport Scotland figures showing just 19 per cent of households earning less than £10,000 a year have access to a bicycle.
COMOUK is already working with communities across the country to prevent people being cut off from key services and opportunities.
The hub will be stationed in Denny until the week beginning December 18 before moving on to visit other Forth Valley communities in the new year.
COMOUK is working with the environmental charity FEL Scotland (formerly Forth Environment Link) on this initiative.
Richard Dilks, chief executive of COMOUK, said: “Mobility hubs increase transport links, improve public health, bring economic benefits to the local community and save people money.
“This project demonstrates how hubs can enhance the experience for pedestrians, cyclists, and business owners by addressing parking issues and creating a more pleasant space.
“It also empowers communities to take proactive measures against climate change and overcome barriers to affordable transport.
“The combination of the cost-of-living and climate crises makes it more important than ever to highlight the public benefits of shared, active, and public transport as an alternative to private car use.”
He added: “We are looking forward to working with community groups and organisations across the Forth Valley over the coming months.”