Why the Future of Urban Mobility Extends Beyond a Single Mobility Hub
European cities are increasingly focused on improving accessibility, reducing congestion and emissions, and creating more attractive urban environments. As expectations around convenient and connected transport grow, Mobility Hubs are becoming an important part of modern city infrastructure.
A Mobility Hub brings together services including parking, EV charging, bicycle parking, shared transport, urban logistics and digital access. However, the benefits of connected mobility can extend beyond an individual location.
From Mobility Hub to Mobility Zone
Q-Park is developing a broader approach to urban mobility through the concept of Mobility Zones. Rather than focusing solely on an individual Mobility Hub, a Mobility Zone connects surrounding transport options, services and destinations to create an integrated network.
Within walking distance, this network could include public transport, shared bicycles and vehicles, taxis, parcel lockers, shops, workplaces, educational facilities and leisure destinations. Connecting these services makes it easier for people to combine different forms of transport.
Making Multimodal Travel Practical
Many everyday journeys involve more than one form of transport. Commuters might park before continuing by metro, visitors could arrive by train and hire a bicycle, while residents may combine cycling and public transport with occasional car sharing.
Mobility Zones support these journeys by making transport options more accessible, visible and convenient. Bringing existing services together can give travellers greater flexibility and encourage more sustainable travel choices.
Supporting Accessible and Liveable Cities
Mobility Zones can support wider urban planning objectives, including Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans, Low Emission Zones, active travel initiatives and improvements to public spaces.
By improving connections between transport services, particularly at the beginning and end of journeys, Mobility Zones can make public transport more accessible, encourage shared mobility and help cities use available space more efficiently.
The Role of Q-Park
As a Sustainable Mobility Partner, Q-Park recognises that its parking facilities and Mobility Hubs form part of a much wider urban transport network.
Through collaboration with local authorities, mobility providers, logistics businesses and property developers, Q-Park can help connect existing services, improve their visibility and create simpler journeys for customers.
This approach benefits residents, commuters, visitors and businesses while supporting cities in their efforts to become more accessible, sustainable and liveable.
The future of urban mobility extends beyond individual Mobility Hubs. By connecting parking, public transport, active travel and shared services, Mobility Zones can create integrated transport networks that help people move around cities more conveniently and sustainably.
About Q-Park
Q-Park is a leading off-street parking infrastructure owner and operator with well-managed commercial parking facilities across seven western European countries. We operate off-street parking spaces we own, have under concession or with long-term lease contracts from public and private landlords. We focus on off-street purpose-built parking facilities at strategic locations. We operate more than 5,500 parking facilities comprising over 1.2 million parking spaces in the Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium, United Kingdom, Ireland and Denmark. Based on publicly available industry data for our competitors, we estimate that we are a top three player, based on the estimated off-street revenues, in all the countries in which we operate. Q-Park also has numerous mobility hubs which provide access to a variety of mobility solutions. We house and support a range of activities from last mile logistics, electric vehicle charging, micromobility and car sharing services which help support urban accessibility, sustainability and liveability.
