In a groundbreaking meeting held on September 18, 2023, Don Cicleto, an EIT Urban Mobility’s Investment Portfolio mobility scale-up, joined forces with the city of El Escorial and the Smart Cities Marketplace to transform urban commuting patterns. The city's project application has an indicative investment volume in the order of approximately € 155,000.
Don Cicleto's reputation as a mobility scale-up in Spain precedes it, with several successful projects spanning across the country. Their most recent success involves securing a major tender for the development of safe active and micromobility parking infrastructure in collaboration with ADIF, Spain's railway agency. This endeavour will result in the delivery of 42 bike and scooter hangars, strategically positioned to enhance accessibility and convenience for train commuters.
El Escorial, a city on the outskirts of Madrid with a population of 18,000 inhabitants, faces a unique challenge. A staggering 70% of its residents’ commute to work beyond the city limits, needing innovative solutions to address mobility issues.
To this end, Don Cicleto and El Escorial have crafted a forward-thinking proposal for the Smart Cities Marketplace (SCM) services. Their initiative is designed to bolster bike and scooter usage while fostering inter-modality among commuters, blending public transport with cycling.
The cornerstone of this proposal lies in the deployment of secure, convenient, and sustainable infrastructure for bike and scooter parking around key mobility hubs. The project aims to set up 12 state-of-the-art bike and scooter hangars strategically located at crucial points, including rail and bus stations, sports facilities, residential zones, and educational institutions. This strategic placement ensures maximum accessibility, encouraging a shift towards sustainable modes of transportation.
The Smart Cities Marketplace is providing technical assistance in three critical areas:
- Legal Assistance for Concession Model: The SCM team is tasked with providing essential legal guidance, ensuring the project's deployment follows all regulatory requirements.
- Financial Viability Study: A comprehensive financial viability study will be conducted to ascertain that the infrastructure deployment does not impose an undue financial burden on the city. This analysis will explore various financing avenues, including national co-financing schemes, European funds and private investment.
- Exploring financing avenues: One of the priorities for the assistance is to find ways to finance this project and decrease the financial burden on the city. Hence, several pathways will be explored, from regional, national and European funds (or co-funding) to private investment and crowdsourcing alternatives.
This joint effort between Don Cicleto, El Escorial, and the Smart Cities Marketplace aims to redefine urban mobility. By using innovative infrastructure and strategic planning, the project aims to enhance the quality of life in cities, combat climate change and fortify the resilience of the mobility sector. Together, they exemplify a model of sustainable urban development that holds the potential to inspire cities across Europe.
“Collaborating with Don Cicleto and the Smart Cities Marketplace will help to address the pressing need to solve mobility challenges and reshape mobility patterns for the betterment of our community in El Escorial”.
Paula Martinez, Architect of the City of El Escorial