Community Mobility – A City Scavenger Hunt Funded by the EU. Report, Workshops, and Conclusions

On June 11, Warsaw hosted a unique urban game titled “Community Mobility, ” organized by the Center for EU Transport Projects. The event combined education about European funds, a practical assessment of the city’s accessibility, and the integration of participants representing diverse backgrounds.

The event was attended by representatives of national and local government, nongovernmental organizations, secondary school students, and journalists. As a result, the discussion on urban mobility was multifaceted and grounded in the real-life experiences of various social groups.

The outdoor portion of the game

Participants took on the roles of accessibility auditors, parents with double strollers, passengers with special needs, and users of “last-mile” transportation. They took measurements, analyzed infrastructure, recorded interviews with residents, and identified areas that could be improved using funds from the EFICE 2021–2027 program.

Workshop: Design Thinking – From Observation to Recommendations

After completing the fieldwork, the participants gathered for a joint Design Thinking workshop. In a spirit of teamwork—over coffee and cookies—the teams transformed their observations of the city into concrete, actionable recommendations that could be funded by European Funds.

Panel Discussion: “Mobility of the Future”

The event concluded with an expert panel featuring an accessibility specialist and a representative of the City of Warsaw. The panelists addressed the proposals developed by the participants, commenting on their feasibility, potential for implementation, and alignment with mobility development trends in Warsaw and the EU.

The discussion showed that residents and users of the city are able to accurately identify problems and propose solutions that are not only practical but also in line with European trends in sustainable transportation.

Key takeaways from the event

1. Accessibility is the foundation of mobility. Even minor barriers—such as a high curb, a lack of contrast, or font that is too small—can effectively exclude some residents.
2. Information must be inclusive. Multilingual signage, improved readability, and better navigation are real needs, especially at transit hubs.
3. “Last-mile” delivery has enormous potential. Residents are willing to combine the subway with cycling if the infrastructure is convenient and safe.
4. EU funds are truly transforming the city. Many infrastructure projects that we take for granted today were made possible thanks to European support—and there is still room for further development.
5. Empathy changes your perspective. Fieldwork has shown how different groups experience the same space—and how important universal design is.
6. Collaboration among different groups yields the best results. The combination of insights from government officials, NGOs, young people, and experts has created a unique space for dialogue and collaborative thinking about the future of mobility

We would like to thank all the participants who, despite the inclement weather, bravely completed the game’s challenges and then shared their reflections.