Such hubs bring various forms of transport together in one place including buses, car clubs, electric scooters and charge points for electric vehicles. They are said to be particularly common in Germany and Austria.

“The pandemic has changed the way we move around, and it’s vital that as we recover we properly manage space for public transport and shared mobility modes as an alternative to private cars,” said the group’s Scotland director Lorna Finlayson.

Hubs could also provide community facilities such as cafés and package collection points and contribute to the goal of ‘20 minute neighbourhoods’ where most people’s needs are met within a walk of their home.

CoMoUK is currently working with the Scottish Government on guidance and framework as part of the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2). Lorna added: “We look forward to working with the Scottish Government to introduce mobility hubs here and learn from our European neighbours how to transform the way we get around our cities.”

A Transport Scotland spokesman said: “We published our STPR2 update this month, including 20 recommended interventions to consider in the shorter term – including a recommendation in relation to mobility hubs.”

He added a Scottish guidance and appraisal framework being developed will allow robust assessment of future funding decisions on mobility hubs and determination of the most appropriate locations and facilities.

One city looking to take forward the concept of mobility hubs is Edinburgh, which has just published a City Mobility Plan to help deliver a net zero carbon transport system within 10 years.

The plan will be put before the council’s transport and environment committee on Friday and is set to replace Edinburgh’s local transport strategy.

According to a draft of the City Mobility Plan put out for consultation last year, mobility hubs will be explored for major new developments ‘to accommodate public transport and other forms of shared mobility and to enable co-ordinated deliveries’.

The plan also looks to expand the city’s tram network, improve bus routes and introduce an operations centre to monitor traffic. Edinburgh’s transport and environment convener Lesley Macinnes said: “This is a bold, forward looking strategy which will transform our streets, neighbourhoods and connections with the rest of the world for generations to come.”

(Image: CoMoUK)