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It’s the year 2050 and about 70 percent of the global population lives in urban landscapes. Despite the constant bustle of city life, a significant number wrestle with loneliness. Government efforts to enforce sustainability have all but failed and emissions are at an all-time high. There is a staggering financial burden on healthcare services for lifestyle-related diseases.

Imagine a different future where slow mobility options like walking or biking are the preferred choice for urban commuters. Imagine that a rhythmic cadence of footsteps and a synchrony of pedaling transports urban commuters into a meditative trance where the journey itself becomes a rejuvenating experience, rather than a means to an end. What design discipline has the staggering capacity to transport us to this healthier future? Service Design.

Service Design as a process employs strategic and systems thinking to improve the interactions between people, infrastructure, communication and material components of a service. By applying this structure to a Slow Mobility focus, we can reshape urban commuting from a mere necessity to an experience that promotes environmental sustainability and holistic well-being, offering 
a striking contrast to our current trajectory.

 

two-wheels-three-steps-healthier-you-working-bikes-volunteers-us-shipping-container-load-their-partner-africycle-zomba-malawai-sign-up-slots-calendar-work-different-shifts-shop
Top: Working Bikes volunteers in the US shipping a container load to their partner, Africycle, in Zomba, Malawi (https://africycle.org/)
Bottom: Volunteers can sign up for slots on the calendar to work different shifts at the volunteer shop

 

 

An example: Chicago Girls Who Walk is a community-driven initiative that not only underscores the benefits of physical health but exemplifies how walking can foster both flow and a sense of communal connection. By a deeper integration of Service Design principles, this initiative tailors walks, adjusts schedules, and iteratively improves based on continuous community input that allows them to attract a wider audience.

Similarly, platforms like Sweatcoin ingeniously incentivise physical activity. Their distinctive model turns steps into virtual currency and doesn’t rely on fixed goals but instead offers continuous rewards that resonate with many individual motivations. This approach has led to a sustained rise in physical activity, highlighting its potential to enhance public health.

From Working Bikes — a Chicago non-profit shaping local and global communities through refurbished bicycles — we witness the transformative power of service design in the Slow Mobility arena. This group refurbishes donated bicycles, promoting self-reliance and aims for a world with equitable bicycle access. This mission spans continents, benefiting Africa, Latin America and cities beyond Chicago. With over 100,000 bikes restored and countless lives enriched, Working Bikes promotes sustainability, community bonds and wellness. It operates as a full-service bike shop, supporting various non-profit programmes through sales.

 

We can reshape urban commuting from a mere necessity to an experience that promotes environmental sustainability and holistic well-being

 


But Working Bikes can do more to strengthen its service strategy. Deeper community engagement via interactive platforms and events could connect recipients, donors and volunteers. Introducing an environmental impact assessment could enhance sustainability. Exploring partnerships with existing shared biking services like Divvy in Chicago could help reduce the cost of services and benefit the environment by extending bike life instead of producing new ones. This innovative collaboration could be a blueprint for sustainable urban mobility.

Amplifying slow mobility for environmental and citizen well-being is crucial to the future of urban development. The possibilities are vast and diverse. Think of slow mobility hubs co-located with mental health and community centres where residents can rent a bicycle, participate in a group meditation session or join community-led initiatives to beautify the city. Imagine online platforms that combine health information with travel patterns, offering personalised recommendations and rewards for choosing sustainable transit options.

The goal isn’t only new solutions but integrating them seamlessly into city life, making them user-centric and adaptable. Through Service Design, initiatives like Chicago Girls Who Walk can scale beyond borders, while innovations like Sweatcoin can influence systemic changes in health policies. As cities merge slow mobility with public health, infrastructural support is key and communities are pivotal in reclaiming their spaces for walking, biking and sustainable transit.

This is a call to action for urban planners, policymakers and citizens. Let’s use Service Design as our tool to reshape urban landscapes, making slow mobility a key part of sustainable growth. Service Design doesn’t just redefine urban transit; it crafts a healthier, sustainable urban tapestry for tomorrow.

 

 

 

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