Understanding the Integration of Socio-Technical Actors for Sharing and Sustainable Urban Mobility

Abstract

In the search for sustainability and urban reconfiguration, this research analyzes a business model used in sustainable urban mobility initiatives that integrates public and private agents (socio-technical actors – ST-actors) in Fortaleza (Brazil). An integrated case study was carried out with two initiatives: VAMO Fortaleza (e-carsharing) and Bicicletar (bike sharing). Interviews were conducted with the protagonist ST-actors, and documents were analyzed focusing on shared urban mobility. We observed that the initiative implementation integrates ST-actors through public-private partnerships. Based on that, a schematic model was designed to illustrate ST-actor integration as a business model that can be replicated in other contexts using sharing economy principles. In the context of the urban mobility reconfiguration focused on sustainability, we explore a case which has been internationally recognised and we present an underexplored theme about sharing economy initiatives that can be practised.

Sharing-Economy Ecosystem: A Comprehensive Review and Future Research Directions

“…Nevertheless, using digital platforms often requires contributions from various parties [55]. Moreover, it represents a fundamental challenge inside the SE platforms [48]. It is crucial, considering that the actors are empowered to establish marketplaces even in the smallest communities and change the price policy in a specific industry.…”

“…Could the integration between the private and public sectors affect the efficiency and cost of the sharing practice? [48] Providers Prosumers are more motivated to share business than providers.…”

On the complexity and modeling of the electric vehicle sharing problem

“…For example, the Alternative Vehicles for Mobility (VAMO, acronym for Veículos Alternativos para Mobilidade) is the first public one-way electric car-sharing system in Brazil, located in the city of Fortaleza since 2016. VAMO Fortaleza is an initiative aiming to promote sustainable urban mobility, partly in response to the excessive use of private cars in Fortaleza, which increased urban problems such as noise and pollution (Pereira and Silva, 2021). After one year of operation, Teles et al (2018) estimated that this initiative reduced CO 2 emissions to the atmosphere by about 5.5 tons.…”