Dive Brief:
- The City of Columbus, OH unveiled three mobility tech pilot programs in its Linden neighborhood earlier this week as part of its Smart Columbus initiative.
- Leaders opened six Smart Mobility Hubs close to the city’s only bus rapid transit (BRT) line, featuring IKE interactive kiosks and a combination of shared bikes, e-bikes, scooter parking and charging; electric vehicle (EV) charging; ride-hailing pick-up and drop-off points; and car-share parking. And Smart Columbus announced it is seeking 500 community volunteers to test the safety impacts of connected vehicle technology, as Linden is home to a number of intersections that experience a high volume of automobile crashes.
- The city also recommissioned the Linden LEAP autonomous shuttles to transport pre-packaged food. Local officials said the move comes amid an “unprecedented need for food” during the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). All three pilots will run through March 2021.
Dive Insight:
Funded by a $40 million grant awarded to the city following the 2016 Smart City Challenge, the three mobility projects are “all very […]