MixMyRide wants to promote alternatives to the privately used car and therefore networks all means of transport with a mobility app. Until now, trams, bicycles and carpooling had to be booked separately. With the help of data on public transport, dynamic data on carpooling and bikesharing, and intelligent algorithms, mobility demand and supply are now to be coordinated. The app was developed by a Switzerland-wide consortium consisting of institutes from the ZHAW School of Engineering and the Scuola universitaria professionale della Svizzera italiana (SUPSI). The WinLab of the city of Winterthur, the mobility service provider BePooler, the transport consultant Citec and the Lugano Living Lab were also involved in the development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Combining modes of transport optimally Testing effectiveness in real life Testers wanted for MixMyRide
<\/strong>The mobility app primarily serves as a journey planning system based on artificial intelligence algorithms developed in-house. The app shows different means of transport for the desired trip by determining optimal combinations of route segments based on the available mobility services, which include walking and cycling routes – either by private bike or bikesharing – as well as e-scooters. In addition, once a ride has been found, MixMyRide also enables the booking and organisation of the ride by mediating between people looking for or offering a ride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>The app is available until February 2024 and covers the regions of Lugano, Geneva and Winterthur\/Zurich. It is now being tested for a year. The ZHAW researchers have supported the development of the app in terms of design and functionality and are the local contact for the test phase in the Winterthur\/Zurich region. They are also leading the evaluation, including conducting and analysing surveys. “The test phase enables us to evaluate the potential for behavioural change through MixMyRide and to estimate any effects on overall energy consumption and CO2 emissions,” explains Uros Tomic from the ZHAW Institute for Sustainable Development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>Anyone interested can download and test the MixMyRide app from the iOS App Store or the Android Play Store at any time. If volunteer app users also take part in the surveys and any group interviews, they will help to understand the impact of the app on mobility behaviour and may be entered into prize draws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n