Pre-pilot evaluation for Klimavelo Rickshaw
- Mechelen, Belgium
Participants: City of Mechelen employees
Co-creation format: Pilot appraisal and interview
Co-creation phase: Co-evaluate
The Project
In the Klimavelo pilot, Mpact aimed to bring together all rickshaw initiatives in Flanders through a digital tool. Mpact experimented with the software used for the Mobitwin service, testing it within Klimavelo.
The pilot tested on-demand travel services using electric rickshaws in Mechelen and surrounding villages. Volunteer drivers cycled to the rickshaw garage, collected the keys, and transported clients, primarily elderly women, to their destinations.
Why is co-creation needed?
Recruiting and maintaining volunteer engagement required ongoing attention and communication. Dispatching was handled by two volunteers from Klimaan vzw, which was time-consuming, highlighting the need for efficient software. The lack of structural subsidies from Mechelen further complicated the financial situation.
Mpact aimed to improve the Klimavelo service in a pre-pilot without co-creation. The challenges epxerienced in the pre-pilot showed the importance of co-creation.
How the co-creation event was done
Description and objectives
The aim of the workshop was to hear about the experiences of the pre-pilot in Mechelen and exploring challenges and opportunities for a future collaboration and define the role of Mpact.
Group size: 6 employees
Duration: 2 hours
Venue: Mechelen Care Center
Workshop activities
The workshop revolved around open conversations and interviews.
Insights from the Workshop
- Volunteers include working individuals, people on sick leave, early retirees, and newcomers.
- Promotion relied on word of mouth and advertising cards.
- Dispatching rides is time-consuming, and recruiting volunteers remains difficult, despite Mechelen being the Flemish volunteer capital.
- Mechelen’s Interest: The city is exploring supporting volunteer services, easing regulations for Mobitwin drivers, and addressing challenges with volunteer recruitment, commercial bike taxi competition, and taxi sector limitations.
Reflections on the Workshop
There is a clear difference between communicating with voluntary organizations and decision-makers.
For future pilots, more research on stakeholder profiles and defining their involvement levels would be beneficial.