Building Inclusive Digital Mobility in Čačak: A Collaborative Effort

Blogpost by Samyajit Basu, senior researcher at Vrije Universiteit Brussel 

One of the SSH knowledge brokerage researcher teams mentored by me worked on the initiative “Building capacities to implement inclusive digital mobility” in partnership with the City of Čačak, Serbia. Historically recognized for its spa facilities, Čačak serves as a prominent city and the administrative centre of the Moravica District in central Serbia, positioned in the West Morava valley, within the region of Šumadija. The municipality of Čačak is committed to environmental protection and would like to improve their mobility system more inclusive, accessible, while not missing out on incorporating the benefits digitalization brings. 

The Team 

The research team consisted of Andrea Capaccioli (Deep Blue srl, Italy), Mihajlo Djukic (Institute of Economic Sciences, Serbia), Hannah Hook (Ghent University, Belgium), Lluis Martinez (Mobilise, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium), Kanika Tuteja (Naver Labs Europe, France). The City of Čačak was represented by Radojica Gavrilovic and Suzana Mikovic. 

Objective and Activities

The main goal of this initiative was to enhance local capacities in Čačak to develop an inclusive mobility system in general and digital mobility plan in particular. Followed by desk research and interviews with local mobility stakeholders, a workshop was held on April 3-4, 2024 in Čačak that brought together city representatives, local stakeholders, and as well as participants from other European cities such as Antwerp, Anderlecht, Bucharest, Ploiești, and Herceg Novi. This workshop served as a perfect platform for exchanging knowledge and exploring the multifaceted aspects of digital mobility system.

Key Findings and Recommendations

The workshop highlighted several critical dimensions of digital mobility beyond just technology, including physical touchpoints, citizen participation, funding, and training. Post-workshop surveys showed a significant improvement in participants’ understanding and readiness to implement sustainable and inclusive digital mobility strategies .

Key recommendations included:

  • Raising awareness among public officials about the needs of disadvantaged groups.
  • Promoting active travel through cycling infrastructure and bike-sharing programs.
  • Enhancing public transport with better accessibility features and subsidies.
  • Implementing technological solutions for better parking management.
  • Developing digital tools to provide real-time information.
  • Engaging the community through regular meetings and volunteer programs.
  • Identifying funding opportunities for mobility initiatives.
  • Carrying out knowledge audits well in time to identify the required knowledge that needs to be acquired for implementing a measure.

Final words

The initiative was a success, significantly building the capacity for inclusive digital mobility in Čačak. It showed that continuous engagement and practical workshops are essential for sustaining the momentum towards sustainable mobility goals. The collaborative efforts between researchers and city officials, facilitated by the SSH CENTRE’s structured approach, were crucial in achieving the outcomes.

Dr Samyajit Basu is a senior researcher in urban mobility group at the MOBI Mobility, Logistics and Automotive Technology Research Centre at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)

This blog post is part of a series of reflections about our training events held in different European cities.