Better to share than (not) own

What is a mobility cooperative? What is its core idea and what are its goals?

Professor Dr. Matthias Weiss: Mobility cooperatives are collectively organized associations of people and/or organizations that share vehicles and mobility services. Their core idea is based on cooperative principles such as self-help, self-administration and co-determination. The aim is to provide mobility as a jointly organized service that is geared towards the needs of the members. The focus is on ecological and social aspects, such as the reduction of CO₂ emissions, the more efficient use of resources and the promotion of social participation. Cooperatives offer a democratic alternative to commercial providers and enable members to identify strongly with the organization through co-determination rights.

How widespread are mobility cooperatives in Germany and are there differences between rural and urban areas?

Weiss: There are numerous mobility cooperatives of very different sizes in Germany - from small initiatives with 40 members to large organizations with over 74,000 members. Our research shows that mobility cooperatives are active in both urban and rural areas, but have different challenges and potential. In urban areas, the focus is often on integration into existing multimodal transport services and on reducing CO 2 emissions, while in rural areas the focus is more on ensuring basic mobility and social participation. The organizational form of the cooperative allows flexible adaptation to local conditions and needs, which makes it particularly suitable for the socio-ecological transformation of mobility and therefore also explains the growing number of these cooperatives.

What are the decisive factors for the willingness to join a mobility cooperative?

Weiss: The willingness to join depends heavily on psychological and social factors. The studies that we have carried out as part of the "GenoMobil" research network show that personal norms, social identification and collective expectations of effectiveness are decisive. People are more likely to join if they identify with the aims of the cooperative and believe they can make a positive social and/or environmental impact through their involvement. Perceived practicability and concrete benefits also play an important role. Communication strategies that emphasize ecological and social benefits, as well as participatory processes for co-design, additionally promote the willingness to join.

What values characterize mobility cooperatives?

Weiss: Like cooperatives in general, mobility cooperatives are characterized by values such as democracy, participation and solidarity. Values are reflected in the cooperative form of organization, which is based on joint decision-making and co-design. The members are not only users, but also co-creators and owners of the services. Ecological responsibility and self-help also play a key role in mobility cooperatives. Social responsibility is reflected, for example, in transport services for the elderly or in the provision of low-cost mobility options. Ecological values are emphasized through the promotion of low-emission vehicles and shared use. These values form the basis for a sustainable mobility culture and strengthen members' identification with the cooperative.

What areas of tension arise between the theoretical values and the actual practice and how can this be counteracted?

Weiss: Areas of tension arise above all between the claim to co-determination and the practical implementation of the mobility offer. As the size of the cooperative increases, the range of services tends to become cheaper and better organized, but there is a tendency for participation to decrease and there is a risk of free riders who use the services without getting involved. The balance between democracy and efficiency is also challenging. To counteract this, it can be deduced from our findings that continuous social activation, transparent communication and the promotion of a strong sense of community are of great importance. Professionalization and a clear allocation of roles also help to keep the organization capable of acting without losing its cooperative values. Feedback mechanisms and visible successes strengthen the motivation for active participation.

What needs to be considered to ensure that a mobility cooperative is both profitable and socio-ecological?

Weiss: A mobility cooperative must develop a business model that combines economic viability with social and ecological goals. Accordingly, all three central pillars of sustainability must be adequately addressed. In order to systematize the relevant factors and their interactions, we have applied the Triple Layered Business Model Canvas (TLBMC) in our work, which integrates economic, ecological and social dimensions. The consequences of decisions and actions on the various aspects of sustainability can be derived from this. This is particularly helpful when decisions that aim to improve the ecological side of the business model also have a negative impact on the social or economic side of the business model. Only a holistic approach can prevent such interdependencies from being overlooked.