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In November we hosted a virtual showcase to celebrate the Accessible Streets Studio, a collaboration between Michigan Central—a mobility innovation district being developed by Ford—and Newlab that focuses on making everyday life more navigable and creating opportunities for the residents of Detroit by co-creating solutions with local communities and stakeholders to address transportation challenges and bridge accessibility gaps.

On November 17, we highlighted the work of the Studio, including an inside look at the strategy and learnings generated from the pilots deployed in Detroit neighborhoods to address the first/last-mile transportation gap, increase access to essential resources, improve mobility information and foster safe and welcoming streets.

The showcase featured:

  • Welcome remarks from the Studio team
  • Fireside chat with Michigan Central and projects+PEOPLE
  • Thematic panel discussions featuring the Studio cohort companies, their pilots and a look into their experience bringing their products and technologies to Detroit

Featured companies:

Soofa: Soofa Signs display real-time information including transportation resources, city updates, and local business advertising in neighborhoods throughout Detroit.

Kiwibot: Kiwibot offers people an affordable and reliable way to get local goods delivered, such as groceries or takeout from a local restaurant, using a friendly robot.

Solartonic: Solartonic builds smart poles that run on solar-power and wireless network communications for control of lighting, WiFi, digital media, and signage with AI insights for mobility management.

Numina: Empowering cities with data to become more responsive and equitable, Numina measures all forms of street-level activity using a sensor that quantifies granular behaviors of pedestrians, bicyclists, and different types of vehicles — all in a privacy-first way.

Lazarillo: Lazarillo delivers navigation assistance for blind and visually impaired people provided through an app available for download on smartphones that uses audio assistance.

KUHMUTE: Park and charge your e-bike, e-scooter, e-wheelchair, and more at a network of charging stations for any mode of electric transportation smaller than a car, whether it is personally owned or part of a shared fleet.

Sway Mobility: Electric vehicles offered to Detroiters at affordable rates through a car share program that is designed to expand neighborhood-based transportation options.