In Riga, a solar-powered smart bicycle parking facility has been tested in collaboration with Spanish start-up Novality. It offers a safe place to store bicycles and scooters, private cabinets for helmets and personal belongings, and power charging options.
The Significance of the Project for Riga
Riga Centre faces intense traffic, air and noise pollution, as well as limited public space. Many residents still use private cars daily, which reduces road safety and impairs quality of life. The development of micromobility helps:
✔ To reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality;
✔ To create a safer and more comfortable urban environment for micromobility users;
✔ To provide more convenient and secure bicycle and scooter parking solutions.
Target of the Project
Promote safer and more convenient micromobility in Riga by providing modern and energy efficient infrastructure for users of bicycles and scooters.
Benefits for Residents
✔ Less pollution and noise – reducing car traffic improves air quality;
✔ Safer Urban Environment – infrastructure reduces accident risks for micromobility users;
✔ Convenient and safe bicycle parking – private cabinets for goods, vehicle charging options;
✔ Sustainable solution: solar energy provides an environmental infrastructure;
✔ Efficient use of space – a compact design allows you to leave more room for other city needs.
Project Activities
✔ Testing of a solar powered bicycle and scooter racks;
✔ User Feedback collection – analysis of QR surveys and user experience;
✔ Assessment of the impact on the urban environment – analysis of data on the use of micro-mobility has been carried out.
Testbed Territory in Riga
🔹 Faculty of Business, Management and Economics of the University of Latvia in Riga, Aspazijas Boulevard 5.
Project Results
✔ 79 downloads of QR polls, 62 people used the app, 27 users registered;
✔ Provided a parking space for 10 bicycles or scooters in an area of only 5 × 2 meters;
✔ Positive user experience: no complaints about the service were received during testing;
✔ Data-driven planning – tools developed for planning micro-mobility stations in the future;
✔ Challenges identified for the effective use of the solution in Nordic countries – the bicycle parking is operated using the energy stored by solar panels, but due to lack of sun, especially during the winter period, problems were observed in the operation of the bicycle parking, as well as corrosion formed on its structure;
✔ Inappropriate location for the bicycle parking – although people’s interest was and the solution was used, it was not great. Demand for the cycling site would be higher if it was placed near campuses.
Funding, Duration, and Partners
Funding source: Urban Mobility RAPTOR Pilot 2 Programme of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)
Total project budget: EUR 30 000 (100% EU funding)
Total budget for Riga: – None
Implementation Period: 01.07.2022 – 01.12.2022
Project Partners: Riga State City Municipality, Spanish start-up Novality
Contact Information
Email: smart@riga.lv
Project Links
Watch the review – YouTube (in English)
https://youtu.be/nbeh2jfurpm
Information about the Raptor project on the website:
RIGA – PROMOTING MICRO MOBILITY – RAPTOR Project
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