COMMON_ACCESS News
Find out about recent updates from COMMON_ACCESS and all past updates below.
Commoning accessibility in (European) peripheries: exploring the practice–policy nexus
October 2025
A new study by COMMON_ACCESS researchers published in Transport Reviews explores how communities across Europe's peri-urban and rural regions are responding to declining public services and transport through grassroots initiatives. The concept of "commoning accessibility", where communities collectively organize access to essential services like transport, healthcare, and local amenities, is at the heart of this research.
Following a systematic literature review to understand how these community-led efforts are shaped by policy environments, the paper finds that while such initiatives can fill critical gaps left by state and market withdrawal, their success heavily depends on supportive policy frameworks. The study introduces an analytical model that distinguishes between commoning as a process and accessibility as a goal, highlighting the complex interplay between grassroots action and institutional agendas.
This research sheds light on the transformative potential of community-driven accessibility solutions, while also cautioning against the risks of offloading state responsibilities onto citizens without adequate support.
Prins, A. (Annemiek), Bertolini, L. (Luca), & Nikolaeva, A. (Anna). (2025). Commoning accessibility in (European) peripheries: exploring the practice policy nexus. Transport Reviews, 45(5), 749–775. https://doi.org/10.1080/01441647.2025.2505613
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October 2025
Commoning Accessibility in (European) Peripheries published
Using the concept of “commoning accessibility,” the UvA COMMON_ACCESS cohort examine grassroots efforts, like community transport and shared amenities, to reclaim access as a shared good. Through a systematic literature review, the paper reveals how policy environments shape these initiatives, not just through legislation but also through broader agenda-setting. The study offers a new analytical framework to understand when and how such community-led practices can transform accessibility in rural and peri-urban areas.
September 2025
Pre-print now available.
A new preprint led by Enrica Papa and an international team of scholars introduces Commoning Accessibility (CA) as a transformative framework for rethinking how people access urban services. Building on the popular 15-minute city concept, the authors argue that accessibility should not be seen merely as proximity or individual mobility, but as a collectively produced and governed resource.
May 2025
Deliverable 1.1 now online
Curious about how suburban communities shape their local futures?
Task 1.1 dives into co-creation workshops across five European regions, uncovering what residents really need for accessible, vibrant neighbourhoods. From Munich to Oxfordshire, discover how the “Flowers of Proximity” method reveals powerful insights into everyday accessibility. Download the report to explore more.
May 2025
Commoning Accessibility Atlas Launched
The first public version of the Commoning Accessibility Practices Atlas is now live. Developed by Politecnico di Milano (PoliMi), the Atlas is a dynamic tool designed for both the public and practitioners to explore existing commoning practices. It serves as a resource for generating new accessibility ideas, informing policy, and sharing innovative solutions. As part of the evolving COMMON_ACCESS project, the Atlas will continue to grow and develop over time.
March 2025
TUM Empowering Urban Transitions Symposium
Consortium members Enrica Papa, Derek Halden, Thomas Straatemeier, and Benjamin Büttner shared insights on accessibility by proximity and the 15 Minute City at the Empowering Urban Transitions symposium hosted by TUM in Munich. All presenters, including Carlos Moreno, sparked meaningful conversations around the deeper meaning of accessibility, encouraging reflections on justice, equity, connection, and the social dimensions of urban mobility.
March 2025
Consortium meeting: Vaterstetten
The COMMON_ACCESS consortium met in Vaterstetten for the second bi-annual in-person meeting, hosted by the Technical University of Munich. Highlights included a warm welcome from Mayor Leonhard Spitzauer and mobility manager Laura Knoll, a presentation by Fahrdienst FSV e.V. on their community-led service for elderly residents, and insights from MVV on local mobility hubs. The meeting closed with a day of interactive workshops held by each work package to share updates on deliverables, milestones and next steps. Follow COMMON_ACCESS on LinkedIn for live updates at the next meeting.
February 2025
Deliverable 3.1 now online
Led by the LSE, D3.1 provides an review of the tools for commoning accessibility practices. Prompted by 27 case studies from across Europe, this review examines and categories the existing tools in place at various scales and applications.
December 2024
Deliverable 5.1 now online
Lead by the University of Amsterdam, D5.1 provides an overview of the diverse practices occurring across peri-urban, suburban, and rural areas, while also mapping the policy frameworks and agendas that influence and shape these activities.
September 2024
Consortium Meeting: Edinburgh
The COMMON_ACCESS consortium meets in Edinburgh this month for the first in a series of in-person local meetings. The meeting agenda covers the internal work package updates of the research project in addition to a range of workshops and talks aimed to provide wider contextual understanding of COMMONing_ACCESSibility in Edinburgh.
September 2024
C_A's first Flowers of Proximity workshop
Facilitated by TUM in Vaterstetten, the Flowers of Proximity workshop collects data on citizens' perspectives about spaces and services and their value of proximity. It fosters stakeholder conversations to understand values and serves as a tool to inform development, with this being the first of many workshops proposed for testbed locations.
July 2024
Deliverable 2.1 now online
Deliverable 2.1, 'CA Conceptual framework' report, is now live. Lead by Politecnico di Milano, the report reviews the literature and data needed to develop the working definitions and expected context surrounding Commoning Accessibility.