Mobility +1: Rethinking the Right-of-Way
Mobility +1 is an invite-only regional leadership workshop series convened by ReROW to bring together academic researchers and public-sector practitioners working on streets and public rights-of-way across Metro Vancouver.
The first Mobility +1 workshop was held on October 4, 2024, at the UBC Robson Centre. It brought together senior leaders from transportation and mobility agencies, each invited to participate alongside a “+1” colleague from outside the mobility sector. This format encouraged cross-sector dialogue and helped surface challenges that extend beyond transportation, including governance, public health, climate adaptation, and community well-being.
The workshop focused on understanding how public rights-of-way are planned, designed, operated, and maintained, and where current approaches struggle to balance competing demands.
Key discussion areas
Discussions highlighted several shared challenges, including:
- Balancing mobility and place within increasingly constrained street space
- Coordinating across departments, agencies, and jurisdictions
- Measuring and communicating the performance of streets beyond vehicle movement
- Engaging the public and decision-makers around trade-offs and priorities
Participants identified ReROW as a potential convener and research partner to help advance shared learning, data development, and applied research across the region.
Mobility +1: Part 2
Mobility +1: Part 2 was a regional leadership workshop held on May 2, 2025 at the UBC Robson Centre. Building on the first Mobility +1 workshop, the session brought together UBC faculty, students, and senior leaders from municipalities, regional agencies, utilities, and public health organizations across Metro Vancouver to deepen collaboration and move toward action.
The workshop focused on sharing faculty research expertise, learning from applied university–civic partnerships, and collaboratively developing priority research questions. Key areas of focus included:
- Right-of-way space and time allocation
- Multi-modal performance beyond automobile level of service
- Health outcomes and equity in the right-of-way
- Climate impacts and adaptation
- Engagement and communication with communities and decision-makers
Across all discussions, participants highlighted shared regional challenges, gaps in data and tools, and the need for stronger alignment between research, policy, and practice. The workshop helped clarify opportunities for future collaboration and reinforced ReROW’s role as a regional convener connecting academic research with real-world decision-making.
Looking ahead
ReROW’s funding has been renewed through 2027. Building on the Mobility +1 workshops, ReROW plans to host additional workshops and a regional symposium to continue exploring how university–community research partnerships can support street transformation and advance urban health, equity, environmental, and social goals.
