Mobility hub

Enterprise Holdings and Brompton Bikes pilot mobility hub

Imperial has partnered with Enterprise Holdings and Brompton Bikes on a pilot Mobility Hub that offers staff the chance to borrow a folding bike at no charge, in exchange for leaving cars at home. Imperial staff also have the opportunity to use an electric and a hydrogen powered car once they arrive on campus, for intra-day business travel e.g. between campuses and for commuting back home when emergency/exceptional circumstances arise. We are conducting a pilot research project to understand the potential for such schemes to promote healthy and sustainable travel behaviours.

Alongside our partners Enterprise and Brompton, the project is a collaboration between the Dyson School of Design Engineering, the Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial Business School, Move Imperial, Imperial Enterprise and four MSc Environmental Technology students, all under the umbrella of Imperial’s Transition to Zero Pollution. See below for details on how to get involved.

"Enterprise is pleased to provide electric and hydrogen powered cars for this innovative project. We are an industry leader in mobility and technology and have more than 60 years’ experience of providing shared transport services. Today we are working with a range of partners to develop sustainable mobility solutions which help reduce traffic congestion and carbon emissions, as well as encouraging active travel. The mobility hub pilot at Imperial will provide valuable insights and information which will enable all the partners to further develop their products and services to meet future transport needs. "

Get involved

Staff can also get involved with the Mobility Hub in multiple ways:

Join cohort 2 (applications closed) 

Applications for Cohort 2 of the Mobility Hub closed on 15 June. Running from 28 June to 20 August 2021, we will give participants a Brompton folding bike for 8 weeks for commuting and free use of the Enterprise Car Club hydrogen/electric cars over the same period.  Simply fill in a short survey and tick the appropriate box to express interest in participating (deadline of Tuesday 15 June for applications).

Complete a short survey 

Complete a short survey and provide valuable insights on travel habits and motivations.

Keep a weekly travel diary in return for regular rewards

Keep a simple weekly travel diary for 10 weeks (2 minutes to complete each week) in return for regular rewards, such as t-shirts, Ethos gym passes and hot drinks. You’ll also be in a fortnightly draw to win prizes such as Garmin activity trackers, MyZone heartrate belts and Club Imperial memberships, courtesy of Move Imperial.  Complete the short survey.

Trial/hire Brompton bikes and Enterprise Car Club hydrogen and electric cars

Trial/hire a Brompton (3 pedal and 2 electric bikes on offer) and the Enterprise Car Club hydrogen and electric cars for use intraday.  We encourage you to complete the short survey and sign-up via the app.

Involvement in any of the above will be gratefully appreciated and will help the College towards reaching its zero pollution and sustainability goals.

Find out more

Imperial staff who work at the South Kensington Campus indicate their interest in participating in the scheme by completing a short survey. The survey responses will be used for research and to determine eligibility for the trial. Participants in the pilot will also be able to access the Ethos cycling pack for free which includes: helmet lights, puncture repair kit, branded high-visibility backpack cover, and snap-on reflective bands.

Staff who do not wish to apply to join are still encouraged to complete the short survey or/and commit to completing the travel diaries to support Imperial research into sustainable transport. To trial/hire a Brompton or Hydrogen or electric car, please sign up via the app.

The surveys will focus on travel habits, behaviours, motivations and perceived barriers to sustainable transport options.  They will also help to attempt to understand if and how an intervention, such as a mobility hub, can increase modal shifts to sustainable and healthy modes of travel, and if such an intervention can reduce car ownership in the long run.

This is a unique opportunity for staff to trial a bike before making a financial commitment. If you are not interested in joining the pilot but still want to know how Imperial can support your cycling, then follow the links below.

Please contact James Perry at Move Imperial if you have any questions on the pilot that aren't answered on our frequently asked questions page.