The Municipality of Braga has launched the “Reactivity Braga – Diversity and Sustainability” initiative to encourage Braga residents to embrace more sustainable, inclusive, and eco-friendly transportation options. In return, citizens can accrue points to exchange for discounts at local businesses.

This represents an innovative intermodal urban mobility project supported and promoted by EIT Urban Mobility, in collaboration with Braga Urban Transport (TUB) and the Business Association of Braga. The project hinges on a reward and gamification system, where users are incentivised to choose public transportation, bicycles, electric scooters, or walking for their commutes.

This approach makes the mobility experience more appealing and enjoyable, motivating citizens to adopt more mindful and sustainable transportation practices.

The project began on 10 August and is slated to run for three months. To participate, Braga residents need to complete a specific form. Upon registration approval, users can access an online platform to track their performance, view accumulated points, and observe their contributions to promoting sustainable mobility in Braga.

During the project’s presentation press conference, Olga Pereira, Braga’s City Councillor and President of the Board of Directors of TUB, remarked that this initiative is part of ongoing efforts to transform the mobility habits of Braga residents toward sustainability: “Reactivity Braga follows the success of last year’s Bicification project, which inspired us to apply for this new project in partnership with TUB. Reactivity relies on buses as the core component but also encourages walking, cycling, and scooting.”

“The great thing about the REACTIVITY project is its intermodal approach, which combines different modes of transport to offer citizens flexible and convenient options for their daily journeys,” explained Olga Pereira, Braga City Council councillor. By integrating public transport with bicycles and electric scooters, the project extends the reach of public transport stops, providing citizens with more comprehensive and accessible mobility throughout the city. “The municipality remains committed to working in favour of more sustainable mobility in the municipality, which benefits everyone’s quality of life,” said the councillor.

REACTIVITY promotes sustainable mobility through a unique reward and gamification component. By participating in the project, users can accumulate points and achieve goals by opting for more sustainable modes of transport.  With the project’s rewards and gamification mechanism, users can win vouchers, which can be discounted at various commercial establishments that are partners of the initiative. Around 30 shops are already involved, but the aim is to extend this range to a more significant number of establishments. “We started out with around 30 shops, but given the extraordinary receptiveness of local businesses, the aim is to increase the number of shops involved significantly,” said Rui Marques, AEB’s director-general.

Local traders joining the REACTIVITY project represents a unique opportunity to boost their businesses and establishments. By joining the network of partners that accept vouchers generated by users, shops have access to greater visibility and attract customers. In this way, traders not only benefit from increased customer flow, but also contribute to a more sustainable and dynamic city.
Over the next three months, Braga’s people can participate in this pioneering initiative. Through the online platform dedicated to the project, citizens can monitor their performance, accumulate points and check their contribution to more sustainable mobility in Braga.

About REACTIVITY

The REACTIVITY project rewards public transport and active mobility to reduce emissions; backs data-driven urban; and traffic planning and engaging with citizens, thus helping cities promote sustainable mobility and intramodality while discouraging car dependence.

This project meets the needs of city managers for digital tools to enable urban multi-modal and multi-source mobility planning, providing a solution to support intermodal transport, including public transport, cycling, walking, kick-scooters, and car-pooling. The mobility monitoring support is achieved through an active mobility plugin integrated in a multi-data source web dashboard.

The solutions will be implemented and tested in Braga (Portugal) and Lecce (Italy) during the second half of 2023. The expected outcomes of REACTIVITY are an increased share of public transport (+6%) and active mobility (+ 15%) and the reduction of kilometres driven by private cars (-2.5 M) and of CO2 emissions (-320 tons) in each city.

Discover more: reactivity-eit.eu

Braga has been chosen as one of the 100 cities participating in the Intelligent Cities Challenge (ICC) by the European Commission. This selection highlights the city’s commitment to innovation, mobility, and quality of life, aligning with our vision for a smarter and greener future.

July, 2023 – Braga, a historic city in northern Portugal, has recently emerged as one of the shining stars in intelligent cities. With its rich cultural heritage, stunning architecture, and a strong focus on technological innovation, Braga has positioned itself as a frontrunner in the European Commission’s Intelligent Cities Challenge (ICC).

Braga’s inclusion in the ICC is a testament to the city’s commitment to embracing digital innovation and leveraging technology to create a smarter, more sustainable urban environment. The city has made significant strides in various domains, including smart mobility, sustainable energy, and citizen engagement. Being selected as one of the 100 cities in the Intelligent Cities Challenge is a prestigious recognition and a responsibility for Braga. The city is now part of a vibrant network of like-minded European municipalities, exchanging best practices, sharing knowledge, and collaborating on common challenges.

Pedro Moreira, Head of Transport Authority and Mobility Management Unit at Município de Braga Smart Cities , highlights that the ICC will provide Braga with valuable resources, best practices, and support to enhance its sustainable urban development efforts. Leveraging data, smart mobility, and citizen engagement, aim to shape a better future for their community.

European Commission’s Intelligent Cities Challenges

The Intelligent Cities Challenge is a Commission initiative that supports European cities to move towards transforming their economies to be green and digital. It helps European cities simultaneously tackle the power of cutting-edge technologies as they improve their economic competitiveness, social resilience and citizens’ quality of life. These communities will begin their two-year journeys through Local Green Deals to establish an effective strategy and creative solutions to position the city at the forefront of the green and digital twin shift.

More information is available here: https://www.intelligentcitieschallenge.eu/

Stay tuned for updates on their journey as they embark on this exciting endeavour!

The city of Braga, located in the beautiful country of Portugal, has been selected as a co-chair of the prestigious EIT Urban Mobility City Club. This achievement highlights Braga’s commitment to transforming urban mobility and establishing itself as a leading city in sustainable transportation solutions. With its rich history, vibrant culture, and forward-thinking mindset, Braga is poised to drive innovation and shape the future of urban mobility. This nomination is valid until the end of this year, and in early 2024 there will be new votes for the biennium 2024/2025.

Braga’s selection as a co-chair of the EIT Urban Mobility City Club is a testament to the city’s ongoing efforts to drive innovation in sustainable transportation. Braga has long been recognized as a city that embraces innovation and seeks sustainable solutions to address the challenges of urbanization. The city’s strategic vision focuses on fostering a more liveable, inclusive, and environmentally friendly urban environment. Through its active participation in various urban mobility initiatives, Braga has positioned itself as a key player in shaping the future of transportation.

According to Olga Pereira, President of the board of directors of Transportes Urbanos de Braga, this nomination and the support received by the cities that integrate this project is further proof of Braga’s commitment to issues related to urban mobility improvement. “This recognition is another stimulus for us to continue working, in partnership with other European cities, for a more and more sustainable mobility, for the benefit of a better quality of life for all European citizens”, she said, recalling Bicification as an ‘excellent example’ of a joint project with very positive results.

City Club is a platform, created by EIT Urban Mobility, for cities to collaborate, sharing best practices, upscaling ideas and putting them to work. Every year the club produces a list of key challenges facing cities, which can be tackled by innovation projects and fed into our innovation, education, and business creation programmes. The cities on this platform will act as Living Labs to test projects and improve innovation in urban mobility. It will also serve to disseminate the projects under development among citizens. The club also serves as a sounding board for citizens and a means of outreach.

Discover more about EIT Urban Mobility City Club here: https://www.eiturbanmobility.eu/city-club/

Portugal has been making noteworthy progress in urban mobility in recent years. The country has set ambitious goals and objectives, driven by the motivation to reduce the environmental impact of transportation and create more sustainable cities. One of the primary objectives of Portugal’s urban mobility policies is to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable transportation. To achieve this, the country has set a target to have 40% of all urban trips made by walking, cycling, or public transport by 2030. This goal is part of Portugal’s National Energy and Climate Plan, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030.

The motivation behind Portugal’s push for sustainable urban mobility is to create more liveable and healthy cities for its residents. The country’s urban areas are among Europe’s most congested and polluted, significantly impacting public health. By promoting sustainable transportation, Portugal aims to reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, and create more pleasant urban environments.

Portuguese cities are working towards achieving these objectives. Portugal’s capital city, Lisbon, has been working on making its transportation more sustainable for several years. The city has implemented a bike-sharing program, a car-sharing service, and an electric tram system. It has also invested in a network of bike lanes and pedestrian paths, which has helped increase cycling and walking in the city. Cities like Porto, Braga or Cascais has made significant investments in public transportation.

How is EIT Urban Mobility supporting Portugal’s objectives?

Since 2021, 39 projects have been implemented in the country to promote innovation and foster collaboration in urban mobility, two of which are particularly noteworthy: RAPTOR and #ChallengeMyCity.

Rapid Applications for Transport (RAPTOR) is a competition that swiftly creates and tests solutions to niche urban mobility challenges. Participants compete to provide the most innovative, feasible, and impactful solutions. The RAPTOR programme was implemented in 2022 in the city of Cascais with successful results, helping to solve three challenges identified by the city.  

#ChallengeMyCity is a programme enabling European cities to tackle their most pressing urban challenges by testing market-ready innovative mobility solutions.  Its objective is to test the best solutions through a six-month pilot and evaluates their social, economic, and environmental impact and estimate long-term integration into the city’s mobility strategy, to make mobility more sustainable and accessible for all.

The programme will be implemented in 2023 in Braga, which has just won the European Mobility Week 2022 prize for its remarkable activities in promoting sustainable mobility and continues to take steps towards improving its urban mobility ecosystem. Through #ChallengeMyCity programme, it is seeking innovative solutions to face four identified challenges. A total of 240.000 € will be invested in testing these solutions.  https://portocanal.sapo.pt/noticia/326280

But in addition to these two main programmes, other projects have been developed in the country thanks to our collaborative work, resulting in an investment of more than 1.5 million from EIT Urban Mobility since 2021. The city of Lisbon becomes one of the most illustrative examples, with more of 16 projects implemented. 

As Portugal continues to prioritize sustainable and innovative urban mobility solutions, programmes like RAPTOR and #ChallengeMyCity will continue to play a significant role in driving progress and promoting collaboration.

• EIT Urban Mobility’s city partner, Braga has won the EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK award in recognition of its work on sustainable mobility
• The award recognises outstanding municipalities for promoting green and active transport during the previous year’s European Mobility Week, the European Commission’s flagship awareness-raising campaign.
• The Portuguese city picked up the prize at a ceremony in the Belgian city of Ghent on 23 March

The city of Braga in Portugal has won the prestigious 2022 European Mobility Week Award for its commitment to promoting sustainable mobility. The award recognises cities for their efforts to promote sustainable urban transportation and reduce the environmental impacts of cars and other motorized vehicles. The European Commission announced the award as part of its annual European Mobility Week celebrations. Braga was selected from dozens of European cities for its commitment to developing sustainable urban transport solutions. The city has implemented a range of innovative initiatives to reduce car use, including the creation of a city-wide bike-share system, the introduction of electric buses, and the promotion of public transport. Braga is also making progress in developing alternative forms of transport, such as electric scooters and e-bikes, as well as encouraging citizens to use more sustainable modes of transport like walking and cycling. The award is a testament to Braga’s dedication to creating a more sustainable and healthier urban environment. By investing in green and innovative transport solutions, Braga is demonstrating that cities can take action to reduce car use and promote healthier, greener lifestyles. 

EU judges were impressed with Braga’s commitment to raising awareness on sustainable mobility with many stakeholders, including residents, local businesses, and educational institutions. With this award, the city of Braga is paving the way for other cities to follow in its footsteps and create more sustainable and liveable urban environments.

“It’s an honour to be here today and celebrate Braga’s achievement in promoting sustainable mobility and co-creating synergies among various organisations to provide clean and appealing mobility options for our citizens and families,” Olga Pereira, Braga’s Mobility Councillor said in her acceptance speech.

The other finalists in the category were Sofia (Bulgaria) and Zagreb (Croatia). Offering her congratulations to the various winners of the EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK awards, Adina Vălean, European Commissioner for Transport, told them: “Your inspiring activities really show how cities and towns across Europe can improve people’s wellbeing by offering more sustainable mobility options for all.”

EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK runs from 16-22 September every year, providing towns and cities with an opportunity to try out innovative traffic and transport planning, promote new use of infrastructure and raise awareness on sustainable mobility within their communities. (1)

The Municipality of Braga and EIT Urban Mobility – a winning and strong collaboration

The Municipality of Braga and EIT Urban Mobility have partnered to collaborate on multiple projects to improve urban mobility in the region. In 2023 the Portuguese city was selected as part of our #ChallengeMyCity programme, a European self-designed programme that enables European cities to tackle their most pressing urban challenges by testing market-ready innovative mobility solutions.   Enhancing bike safety and monitoring cyclists´ flows, Understanding and promoting active mobility in the city centre, Improving monitoring and use of on-street parking spaces and encouraging alternative transportation for school commuting to decrease private car usage are the four challenges that will be solved in the city, thanks to the #ChallengeMyCity programme. More info available here.

In 2022, Braga implemented the Bicification project, which was supported by EIT Urban Mobility, an initiative to turn traditional transportation into a more sustainable form of travel by supporting a modal shift towards green, active mobility through a reward-based gamification programme.

More info available here

(1 – article from the EuropeanMobilityWeek website)

Portugal is becoming a leader in the field of urban mobility, and thanks to their collaboration with EIT Urban Mobility is leading the way. Together, the city and the entity have launched several projects in the country aimed at improving the quality of life for citizens and reducing environmental impact.

And if we think about Portuguese cities, Braga is one of the most dynamic and forward-thinking cities in Europe regarding urban mobility. In consortium with EIT Urban Mobility, the city has developed ambitious projects to improve the mobility of people and goods, reduce emissions and promote the shift towards low-carbon mobility systems and smart cities. To tackle air pollution and traffic congestion, the city has created a bicycle-sharing system and a network of bike lanes. In 2022 the city decide to implement the project “Bicification – O Futuro em Duas Rodas”, funded by EIT Urban Mobility. 

Bicification – O Futuro em Duas Rodas”, (“Bicification – The Future on Two Wheels”) is a European project of sustainable mobility with which 500 citizens from Braga are helping the planet, improving their quality of life and being financially rewarded for their regular use of the bicycle.

Bicification, one of the main projects of the city co-founded by EIT Urban Mobility, is a unique initiative that seeks to turn traditional transportation into a more sustainable form of travel. It aims at supporting a modal shift towards green, active mobility through a reward-based gamification programme. Proposing an advanced solution (TRL9) consisting of patented hardware and software for monitoring and rewarding bike trips reliably.

This pilot project is taking place in three European cities and aims to encourage the use of soft mobility and study citizens’ behaviour to help political decision-makers implement measures. Through a GPS system and the associated App it is possible to monitor the bicycle journeys made, giving rise to financial incentives. This monitoring is done on a centralised data platform.

Each participant can consult the value of the cash prizes they have collected since day 1 on the App. They will also see the local businesses involved in the project where these monetary values can be used to purchase products/services.

Registered users receive monetary rewards from the local authorities, while cities benefit from valuable and reliable trajectory data. Local shops are also supporters of the scheme, as they provide discounts based on the collected points. Thus, an additional benefit for the local communities is the promotion of purchases from local shops.
Bicification also works to promote the health and environmental benefits of cycling, so it is a win-win situation for everyone. Another key aspect of Bicification is that it seeks to bridge the gap between city planning and cycling culture. It works to increase awareness of the infrastructure and services available for cyclists, and also works to encourage civic engagement and participation.

In the city of Braga, the project covered more than 77 thousand kilometres representing an estimated saving of 8 tonnes of CO2.  More than 5,500 euros in vouchers were already delivered.

EIT Urban Mobility is making a huge impact in Braga and beyond. The city is an inspiring example of how through smart innovations and initiatives, mobility can be revolutionised for the better. Furthermore, this is proving to be an invaluable opportunity for Braga to become a world leader in urban mobility and serve as an inspiration for other cities.
Regarding citizen involvement, the project has 1.500 users between Braga, Istanbul and Tallinn, 3 different cities that are making great efforts to promote active mobility. Aiming at reaching 100,000 users in 90 cities in the next 5 years.

EIT Urban Mobility Programme has also improved existing infrastructure and developed new projects around Portugal. For instance, helping the city of Cascais reduce parent commuter’s car dependency by suppressing their need to drive their children to school. Another main initiative is the Flexcurb in Funchal which has also revolutionised the mobility industry. The project provides a solution to control and balance the use of public space digitally, enabling the transition towards flexible use and management of the curb.
Through its various initiatives, EIT Urban Mobility is working to improve the mobility of Portugal and create more sustainable, integrated and efficient transport systems in order to make cities in the country more liveable.

The European project ‘Bicification’ is funded by EIT Urban Mobility, an initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union. Istanbul, in Turkey, and Talín, in Estonia, are the other two cities that joined the project.

Discover more: https://bicification-project.eu/