Creating sustainable urban mobility

It is estimated that 9.7 billion people will inhabit the planet by 2050 – 70 per cent of these will live in cities. The increasing urbanisation will be a challenge to cities all over the world. Some of these challenges include congestion, an increase in CO₂ emissions and increased pressure on the transportation system.  Hence, the demand for new innovative solutions within sustainable urban mobility is growing.

By integrating different modes of transportation, urban planning can address climate and environmental issues such as private car use and congestion, for instance through increased public transportation and facilitating greener alternatives, which saves both time and cost for people and society.

Incorporation and collaboration between several sectors, policy areas, levels of government and private stakeholders is a vital factor in mobility management. Intermobility and a flexible transportation system enable people and goods to move around more easily by combining alternative modes of transport.

Cities must be built for people in order to be sustainable, healthy and liveable. Targeted policy-making to ensure that the residents of the city are invited to walk and bike as much as possible in connection with their daily activities is a strong reinforcement of these objectives. The key is to acknowledge the importance of city space and city life as an attractive, informal and democratic meeting place for the residents in the 21st century.