Autonomous vehicles (AVs) have the potential to radically transform the spaces we travel through and to. While many European cities have already started experimenting with autonomous mobility, much of the current discussion revolves around the technology itself and its potential social and environmental impact. But if AVs aren't properly integrated into a city's spatial planning, chances are high that it won't be able to deliver on its promised potential.

PAV is an Interreg NSR-funded project that will help cities develop sustainable spatial planning strategies that include AVs. Beyond working directly with the partner cities, PAV can help other local authorities integrate autonomous mobility by making the necessary knowledge and methodology freely and easily accessible.

There will be four PAV pilots running in the North Sea Region to test how AVs interact with existing transport modes and end-users - the experiences from these four different sites will contribute to discussions around how Europe can effectively implement autonomous mobility. For instance, Region Hannover, and RegioBus have launched an open call for a smart mobility solution that can handle peak passenger volume to optimise commuting to and from Leibniz University of Hannover's new campus. You can find out more about the challenge here.

In addition to running the four pilots, PAV will help the public authorities develop green transport and spatial planning strategies, as well as produce a handbook for urban planners.

Led by HI-TRANS, the PAV partnership includes one transport authority, three local authorities, four knowledge centres, and four network organisations to ensure no stakeholders are left out of the discussion. It will run from September 2019 until September 2022.