West Midlands to trial mobility hub network

A network of mobility hubs, situated in in residential neighbourhoods, shopping areas and transport interchanges are to be trialled in the West Midlands.

The hubs – which are branded ‘Local Travel Points’ – will make it easier for residents to choose active, shared and sustainable travel for short trips, and will connect communities to wider bus, rail and tram services.

The year-long pilot scheme will feature three such hubs, two of which – at Halesowen bus station and Huntingtree Park community centre, opened last month. The third will be located at Cross Street, the most residential location of the three.

The Travel Points will offer services such as bike hire, bike repair and storage, car clubs, EV charging, travel information, parcel lockers and a covered social area with seating.

The pilot project is part of the region’s Future Transport Zone, a trial funded by the Department for Transport to help make journeys easier, smarter and greener. It is being delivered by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), working with Black Country Transport and Dudley Council. 

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: ‘This roadshow is all about bringing greener, easier transport options like cycle hire and car share right to people’s doorsteps. It’s important that our communities get involved and share their feedback. Their input will help us make these local travel hubs even better and bring them to more neighbourhoods across the region.’

Richard Dilks, chief executive of CoMoUK, said: ‘It’s fantastic that the West Midlands is leading the way by becoming the first part of the UK to build its own network of mobility hubs, and we are certain they will prove popular. These small, simple and flexible pieces of transport infrastructure have proved very successful in other parts of the world and there’s every reason to roll them out here too.

‘Mobility hubs reclaim space for sustainable, green and convenient modes of transport that is usually taken up by private cars, helping to cut traffic congestion and carbon emissions in the process. They also make it far easier for people to get around by creating seamless links between public transport and schemes such as shared bikes, e-scooters and car clubs.

‘We congratulate TfWM on its ambitions in this area and hope its example will be followed by local leaders in other towns and cities who want to improve their urban environments.’