Utrecht Symposium meeting
Living on the Edge: Growing Shared Mobility and Housing in the Urban Outskirts of the 15-Minute City
The SHARE-North Squared & DREAMS Symposium, held on October 1, 2025, at Paushuize, Utrecht, gathered planners, researchers, housing experts, and mobility practitioners to explore how shared mobility and housing developments can shape the outskirts of the 15-minute city. The event was organized by the Municipality of Utrecht and the University of Twente, with the collaboration of the Share-North Squared and DREAMS partners, and brought together more than 70 participants from across Europe working towards healthier, more accessible urban living.
The afternoon began with introductory talks setting the scene for Utrecht’s ambitious goals: achieving healthy urban living while maintaining zero growth in car traffic and becoming a 10-minute city.
Kristof Penders (Woonmaatschappij Rivierenland - Woonland) opened with insights from the SHARE-North Squared project, highlighting the importance of integrating shared mobility within social housing projects. Karst Geurs (University of Twente) followed with an overview of the DREAMS project, discussing how shared mobility can enhance accessibility in the city’s outskirts.
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Liselotte Bingen (Gemeente Utrecht) then presented Utrecht’s Spatial Strategy, outlining the city’s vision for sustainable expansion and mobility integration. Sven Huijsman (The New Drive) shared practical experiences with shared e-bikes in Utrecht, while Niek Verlaan (Gemeente Utrecht) presented the initiative “Mobility for All” (Vervoer voor Iedereen), focused on ensuring inclusive access to mobility options.
After a coffee break, participants joined one of four interactive workshops, each tackling a key challenge in the transition towards more sustainable and inclusive outskirts:
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Workshop 1: Business models for shared mobility in urban outskirts – led by Stephanie Geertman (Hogeschool Utrecht)
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Workshop 2: Shared mobility & accessibility in the 15-Minute City – Decision Support Tool – facilitated by Bartosz McCormick (TU Munich)
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Workshop 3: Mobility Exploitation Fund – Case Lunetten – presented by Thomas van Oosten (Stadkwadraat)
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Workshop 4: How to reach out to the target group – guided by Niek Verlaan (Gemeente Utrecht)
The event concluded with a recap and reflection session, followed by networking drinks, offering participants a chance to continue discussions on innovative approaches to shared mobility and housing integration in suburban contexts.
The Utrecht Symposium showcased the city’s pioneering role in creating sustainable, inclusive, and accessible neighbourhoods — advancing the shared vision of the DREAMS and SHARE-North Squared projects for resilient urban outskirts across Europe.
