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Spain's traffic chief Pere Navarro has long made it clear that "the future of mobility in cities lies in public transport and car sharing". Now the DGT is putting words into action with a new public-private scheme designed to cut down on vehicles carrying just one person to work.

 

Launched on Monday January 19, "28027 Share a Car" partners the DGT with tech firm TRIBBU to encourage up to 5,000 employees in Madrid's 28027 postal code, that's the Ciudad Lineal district, to share private cars for their daily commute. Six major companies have signed up: Banco Santander, Alsa, Grupo Planeta, Vocento and ASISA, all with offices in the area.

 

TRIBBU provides a digital platform to make car sharing simple, handling everything from sign-ups and route planning to tracking participation. The DGT is chipping in with up to 30 parking spaces at its own facilities for those who need them but lack company parking.

 

 

The scheme forms part of the DGT's Standard Plan for Safe and Sustainable Mobility, drawn up with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (INSST) and Labour Inspectorate. It supports the Road Safety Strategy 2030 by embedding road safety into company practices. Behind it lies stark data: one in ten work-related accidents causing sick leave involves traffic, and 72% of those happen on the home-to-work journey.

 

If successful, DGT plans to roll out lessons learned to other Madrid districts and locations across Spain. Success in Ciudad Lineal could spark similar initiatives nationwide, helping reduce congestion while making commutes safer.

 

For now, the pilot gives workers in this busy part of Madrid a practical way to share the road — and the parking hassle. With traffic pressures growing, such partnerships between authorities and business could become a familiar sight.

 

 

Image: wikicommons