Arval Service Lease Polska, a leader in the long-term vehicle leasing market and provider of diverse mobility solutions, entrusted us with an unusual task: to examine which methods of moving around a large metropolis are the most efficient. Thus, the idea for the Great Urban Mobility Test (GUMT) was born. This unique event aimed to compare different means of transport in the city and identify those that are fast, affordable, and the most eco-friendly.

The first edition of the test took place in Warsaw in October 2023. We tested vehicles on five different routes, with 20 participants using electric cars, combustion-engine cars, bicycles, and public transport. We planned the routes and the entire event format, measured the results, and even took part in the test ourselves as participants. An important element of this project was the involvement of journalists and influencers as mobility testers. This helped raise their interest in the topic of sustainable mobility, a subject that can often be seen as somewhat overexploited in everyday discussions.

The second edition of the GUMT took place in September 2024, attracting even more participants, featuring a wider range of transport modes, and gaining new partners and support from local authorities, including the honorary patronage of the Mayor of Warsaw. A total of 42 participants (including 23 journalists and influencers) started from 6 different points in Warsaw, making their way to the city center, near Rondo Daszyńskiego. The participants used 7 different modes of transport: electric cars, combustion-engine cars, conventional and electric bicycles, electric scooters, public transport, and the prepaid mobility card Arval Mobility Pass.

Based on the data collected, we prepared a report summarizing the 2024 GUMT. The results confirmed the dominance of micromobility in the urban environment.

As a result of our efforts, the first edition of the GUMT received the PRWA Excellence Award, granted by PR World Alliance, along with two nominations for the Złote Spinacze 2024 (Golden Pins 2024) – the largest PR competition in Poland. Additionally, the PR agencies representing Arval in Belgium and the Netherlands expressed interest in implementing the project in these countries. The second edition gained widespread media coverage and recognition – over 1,000 publications about the project appeared in print, radio, television, online media, and social media.