Every empty car seat is a potential that is not being used, the Helmond campuses, the Municipality of Helmond and Brainport Bereikbaar think. For that reason, they are testing the app Karos, which encourages driving together. Carpooling is a more sustainable option, improves accessibility and brings people and companies together,' says Kees van Son of Brainport Bereikbaar. The deployment of the app in the region received a boost partly thanks to the Regio Deal Brainport Eindhoven.
Employees of Automotive Campus, Brainport Human Campus and the Municipality of Helmond have already made nearly three hundred carpool rides via Karos in recent weeks. This makes Helmond the first municipality to deploy the app in the Netherlands. ‘We are trying to encourage residents to opt for a more sustainable form of transport,’ says councillor Arno Bonte. 'Then it is only natural that we do the same ourselves. Initiatives like this are much needed, the alderman believes. 'In a short time, the region will grow considerably. Helmond is expected to grow from 95,000 to 115,000 inhabitants. To prevent roads from silting up, we need to travel in a different way. That is why, for instance, we are investing in better public transport, constructing fast cycle paths and encouraging shared driving'.
Typically Helmonds
Pieter Rahusen, Ecosystem & Business Developmen Manager, is not surprised that Automotive Campus in particular embraces the app.'Driving together fits our mission and vision: making mobility more sustainable and organising it differently. When I heard about Karos, I suggested we start the following week. My colleagues at the Brainport Human Campus thought the same.That's typical Helmond: just do it.'Like the alderman, Pieter also sees the potential of driving together.'At the moment, nine out of ten cars are driven by just one person.I've always marvelled at that.If we can eliminate 20 per cent of transport movements, the traffic jam problem will be solved.A simple calculation tells me that this would happen if everyone carpooled once a week. In France, this is already succeeding: there, Karos is very popular with million trips a day.'
Social aspect
The primary goal of Karos' deployment is to improve accessibility in the region and reduce CO2 emissions. ‘But Samenrijden also brings together drivers and passengers from different backgrounds,’ says Kees van Son, project leader at Brainport Bereikbaar. 'Unlike other initiatives, the users of Karos are not just your colleagues. You can also drive together with employees from other companies. That makes for great conversations, connection and fewer dropouts: if your colleague can't carpool once, there's bound to be someone else who wants to drive together.'
Volume is key to success
For Samenrijden to succeed in the region, however, sufficient volume is needed.
‘The more users, the easier carpooling becomes,’ says Pieter Rahusen.'The biggest challenge is not to fall into your old pattern and that requires a change in behaviour.The power lies in repeatedly drawing attention to Karos.Moreover, it also helps that the driver earns a small amount per ride. All in all, that adds up nicely.
Cooperation between government and business
Alderman Arno Bonte looks to the future with hope.‘People who use the app are positive: they find the ease of use and the low threshold a big advantage. If Karos in Helmond soon has several thousand users, I am convinced that the rest of the region and the country will soon follow.'The first talks in De Kempen are already being held.
‘With this cooperation, government and business in Helmond are setting a good example,’ says Kees. ‘I am proud of that.’
Urban Development Initiative
The use of the Karos app is partly made possible by the Urban Development Initiative (UDI). This involves the Eindhoven and Helmond municipalities, Brainport Development and TU/e working together on adequate, smart, integrated, innovation-driven answers to urban issues. The Regio Deal funds, intended to promote broad prosperity, are a flywheel in this.
