Park and Ride Optimisation in Utrecht

Cities like Utrecht face growing challenges from traffic congestion, pollution and limited urban parking availability. To tackle these issues, this RAPTOR Pilot 2025 project, implemented by umob at Utrecht’s Park+Ride (P+R) Westraven, seeks to promote greater use of P+R facilities. The project is designed to encourage commuters and visitors to switch from private cars to sustainable transportation modes, thus significantly reducing congestion and improving air quality in the city.

Inspired by successful mobility initiatives elsewhere, this pilot introduces a bundled incentive: users pay €10 for parking at P+R Westraven and receive an equivalent €10 digital ride credit. This credit encourages travellers to complete their journey into the city using sustainable alternatives like public transport, shared bicycles or mopeds.

The main objective is to demonstrate that clear incentives and an integrated digital platform can effectively shift commuter behaviour away from private vehicles. This directly contributes to lowering urban pollution levels and easing congestion.

The pilot project will take place from October to November 2025 at P+R Westraven, which was strategically chosen due to its proximity to major roads and public transport connections. The key stakeholders include umob (technology and project management), the Municipality of Utrecht (data, marketing support and infrastructure), and EIT Urban Mobility (coordination and oversight).

Throughout the pilot, structured feedback from users and data-driven insights enable continuous improvement, to ensure that the solution meets commuter needs effectively. The result of the pilot should validate technical and operational scalability, and lay the groundwork for broader implementation across additional locations in Utrecht and beyond.