Residents in Nottingham are being encouraged to leave the car at home and explore alternative ways of getting around following the launch of the city’s first temporary mobility hub.
The new facility has opened at Victoria Embankment and will serve as a focal point for a range of activities designed to promote walking, cycling and other forms of active travel. It has been delivered by shared transport charity CoMoUK and is expected to remain at the riverside location for six weeks before moving to other areas of the city later this summer.
The initiative aims to make sustainable transport more accessible while helping people discover affordable alternatives to private car use. Particular attention is being given to supporting people who are not currently in employment, education or training by improving access to low-cost travel options.
Mobility hubs are designed to bring together different transport services and community facilities in one convenient location, helping people make journeys without relying on a car. The concept has become increasingly common in cities across Europe and North America and is beginning to gain traction in the UK.
Located close to the 1881 Café on the banks of the River Trent, Nottingham’s pop-up hub includes a modular parklet featuring seating areas, greenery, secure cycle parking and a bicycle repair station.
A programme of free activities is being delivered by local organisations RideWise and Runspire. These include led walks and cycle rides, bike maintenance workshops, safety inspections and cycling skills sessions.
A series of ‘build a bike’ workshops is also being offered to people who are not in work, education or training. Participants will be able to keep the bicycles they assemble, providing a practical means of travelling to job interviews, training opportunities and other destinations.
Adults aged 18 and over will have the opportunity to test Lime e-bikes, receive information about Nottingham’s Ride travel-planning app and collect free cycling maps.
The project also supports Nottingham City Council’s Travel Well programme, which enables healthcare professionals to refer patients to activities that encourage physical activity and healthier travel habits.
Organisers say the hub is intended not only to boost levels of active travel but also to improve wellbeing, help people manage long-term health conditions and reduce social isolation by encouraging greater community engagement.
The project has been funded through Active Travel England’s £1 million Active Travel Innovation Fund, which supports new approaches to making sustainable travel more attractive and accessible.
Richard Dilks, chief executive at CoMoUK, said: ‘We’re very excited about the launch of our new pop-up mobility hub in Nottingham, and look forward to hearing how it is received by local residents.
‘These small, simple and flexible pieces of transport infrastructure are brilliant at getting people to try active travel options, and they also have a lovely community feel to them.
‘They reclaim space for sustainable, green and convenient modes of transport that is usually taken up by private cars, as well as helping to cut traffic congestion and carbon emissions.
‘Permanent mobility hubs which give people easy access to shared bikes, e-scooters, and car clubs can also create seamless links with public transport.’
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