A cooperative framework for Universal Basic Mobility System: Mobility credits approach

Development of integrated mobility and traffic management strategies is an important aspect of the ongoing transition of urban mobility systems. Extending from existing credit schemes, this research presents a system design and evaluation of a framework based on the principle of Universal Basic Mobility. In particular, using premises of long-term cooperation and hierarchical self-organization, the system design includes user-based Mobility Credits interrelated with Priority Levels. To complement the cooperation framework, system architecture is formulated in line with the distributed ledger technology. The proposed framework is tested using web-based interaction in the form of stated-preference experiment. Results are analyzed through statistical distributions and a discrete-choice model of user decision-making within the proposed framework. This research concludes that this framework could nudge uses towards reciprocity and altruism in their travelling behavior. In addition, experiment participants have provided a range of comments related to positive features, potential for failure, and further development. Finally, the paper ends by raising several implications for wider citizen participation in the integrated mobility system design and evaluation.