Tackling safe mobility in Barcelona

Tackling safe mobility in Barcelona

RMIT students on a recent study tour in Barcelona have worked with the city council to develop solutions to increase safety in the use of e-scooters.

The group of thirteen students from RMIT's School of Design researched and addressed issues of safe mobility with a focus on the growing concern in the use of e-scooters in congested inner-city areas.

E-scooters have become increasingly popular in many European cities – but as their use increases so do safety issues and concerns.

Responding to a brief from the City of Barcelona, the students worked in teams to develop design solutions aimed at improving safety.

They included a geo mapping-based app to redirect riders to less congested routes while controlling maximum speed; a new non-intrusive docking system to help people store and recharge their e-scooters; as well as a public awareness campaign to create a positive behavior change in the perception of e-scooters.

Bachelor of Industrial Design student Jordan Magana Cruz said that the experience brought a new perspective to his studies.

“Researching and viewing first-hand the impact that e-scooters have in the city was a great way to validate our design intentions for the city and people of Barcelona,” Magana said.

Led by RMIT's Professor Ian de Vere, the safe mobility study tour in Barcelona was part of the broader initative Safeness by Design, which has seen students work on safe mobility projects in both Melbourne and Barcelona.

The student outcomes will be exhibited during the design weeks of both cities – Melbourne Design Week in March 2020 and Barcelona Design week in June 2020.

“This initiative aims to enhance health, wellbeing and social values by using design to achieve actual and evident safeness across a broad range of environments and contexts,” de Vere said.

Geomapapppresentation Students Kuldeep Jangid and Jordan Magana Cruz presenting their geo mapping -based app to representatives from the Barcelona City Council.

Master of Design Innovation Technology student Kuldeep Jangid said that working on a real project was an exciting opportunity to approach existing design challenges.

“We were exposed to real mobility problems of a city followed by an intensive research period,” Jangid said.

“Showcasing solutions through different mediums made this even more challenging and exciting.

“Mobility in the future should be connected, inclusive and automated.

“We need to encourage innovations in our existing cities to make our future mobility safe,” he said.

The study tour in Barcelona was facilitated by RMIT Europe.

Story: Patricia Lora

03 February 2020

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03 February 2020

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  • Urban Design
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