Many transport infrastructures face similar problems: underused public transport, low uptake of sustainable options, EV policies that look strong on paper but underperform in practice. Ethos Lab helps translate these concerns into clear, behaviourally defined problems, such as how people interpret new rules, how they respond to enforcement and incentives, or where everyday frictions push them away from desired behaviours.
We then co-design solutions that fit legal, financial and institutional realities. We work from the start on how successful approaches can be embedded so they can be scaled and sustained rather than remaining isolated pilots.
Road safety, enforcement and traffic regulation
Ethos Lab brings behavioural diagnostics to road safety and enforcement. We analyse how drivers experience rules, fines, signage, street layouts and enforcement practices, and why current measures may fail to change behaviour.
We then help redesign enforcement strategies, communication flows, penalty structures and road environments so that they are clear, predictable and perceived as fair. Our focus is on lasting behavioural change and measurable reductions in high-risk behaviours, not just stronger messages or higher fines.
Public and mass transit
In public transport, we focus on why people do or do not choose buses, metro, tram and rail, even when infrastructure is available. We map the full passenger journey, from planning and ticketing to transfers and arrival, to identify points of confusion, stress or perceived insecurity. Ethos Lab then supports authorities and operators in redesigning in ways public transport feels intuitive, reliable and safe, and is a credible alternative to private car use.
Shared, active and sustainable mobility
Ethos Lab works on the behavioural side of walking, cycling, micro-mobility and shared modes. We examine how people view new options, what barriers they face and how habits are formed or broken over time.
Our expertise lies in designing targeted behaviour change strategies around key “moments of change” (new routes, new passes, life events) and aligning communication, incentives and service design so that sustainable modes are not just available, but actively chosen and maintained as routines.
EV and low-emission vehicles
Ethos Lab focuses on real user concerns and decision processes: uncertainty about range, cost, charging, technology and resale, as well as organisational constraints in managing large vehicle portfolios. We develop behavioural and analytical frameworks to segment users, identify high-impact levers, and support ministries, cities and organisations in designing EV policies, charging strategies and transition plans that people can understand, trust and act on.