Province and Municipality of Deventer Collaborate on Public Mobility

Signing of cooperation agreement in the field of accessible and reliable mobility for everyone.

Driven by the joint ambition to keep Overijssel and thus also Deventer accessible and vital for everyone, the province and the municipality today, Thursday, January 8, signed a Public Mobility cooperation agreement. 

Public mobility is a new way to look at accessibility. The focus is on the goal: accessible and reliable accessibility for everyone. Public mobility looks at suitable solutions that go beyond traditional public transport (PT). Think also of shared mobility and small buses that drive more flexibly and volunteer initiatives. Also, target group transport such as student transport and WMO transport organized by the municipality are part of public mobility. Public transport and target group transport have so far been two separate worlds.

Deputy Martijn Dadema (Mobility): Working on public mobility is solution-oriented. We must do this together with municipalities. This way, we let go of fixed responsibilities and come up with concrete solutions that realize future-oriented, accessible accessibility for Deventer that contributes to the economy, health, and an inclusive society.

Deventer faces a major urbanization challenge, with growth of about 11,500 homes by 2040. A large part of this will be in the existing city. This intention brings challenges in terms of space use and accessibility of facilities. In the design of the scarce public space, we prioritize more sustainable and healthy forms of mobility such as walking, cycling, and public transport, says alderman Marcel Elferink (Living environment, mobility). A good public mobility system ensures that the various forms of transport connect well with each other and with the diverse needs of travelers.

With the cooperation agreement, the Municipality of Deventer and the Province of Overijssel want to give an impulse to reliable accessibility by optimal use of shared transport forms. Principles include inclusivity and preventing transport poverty. Alderman Lars Wijnhoud (WMO): We strive for everyone, from young to old and from independent to dependent, to shape their own life, and that includes being able to move from A to B. By focusing on public mobility that is sustainable, accessible, and reliable, we want to make that possible.

In the coming period, the province and municipality will map out various solution directions. They will also involve relevant parties. It is expected that a decision can be made by the end of 2026 and that from 2027, step-by-step implementation of measures and actions can begin. The experiences gained there will be taken by the province to other municipalities, with the aim of organizing accessibility from public mobility throughout Overijssel.