The greatest benefit of sustainable urban mobility is healthier, more liveable cities for people
The Global Mobility Call, taking place from 19-21 November, will address policy developments and challenges to developing new actions that put the public at the centre of mobility.
For several years, sustainable urban mobility has been a key focus area for public policy, with a range of measures and initiatives introduced to promote electric public transport, the creation of Low Emission Zones, the use of bicycles and others that contribute to transforming cities into healthier and more habitable spaces for people.
The third Global Mobility Call, the largest international sustainable mobility event organised by IFEMA MADRID and Smobhub, will address the challenges of consolidating these new forms of urban mobility. The event will take place from 19 to 21 November 2024.
In addition to the progress being made in public transport bus fleet electrification, other actions include the introduction of electric vehicles in taxi services, the rise of car sharing companies, and the expansion of public bicycle, motorbike and electric scooter rental systems. The technological development and digitalisation of numerous services related to the transport of people and goods are also considered advances.
These actions’ combined impact contributes to the achievement of environmental objectives by significantly reducing pollutant emissions into the atmosphere. This, in turn, reduces the carbon footprint of public transport, which is also transformed into a more efficient service. Furthermore, it improves air quality in cities.
Several key challenges are identified to further developing sustainable urban mobility, including infrastructure improvement, the project financing (some of which are public-private partnerships), the search for new business models and value chains in the field, as well as raising social awareness of the need to change habits and ways of moving around.
People at the Heart of Sustainable Urban Mobility
Sustainable mobility professionals advise that when defining policies and actions, it is essential to consider the public’s well-being and to listen to their needs and behaviours. This aligns with the demand for safe and efficient public transport and new ways of getting around.
At the second Global Mobility Call, held from 24-26 October 2023, the then advisor to the Ministry for Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Adrián Muelas, highlighted the importance of the concept of "humanising cities" in the current process of change. He emphasised that it is a key strategy for providing security and putting the public at the centre of this transformation.
Francisco Alonso, a psychologist at the University of Valencia, explained that in this sense, the most effective approach is not to impose a specific way of moving, but to facilitate it and convince people in a context where the public demand immediacy. The Mayor of Tres Cantos (Madrid), Jesús Moreno, also concurred with the concept of humanising cities, emphasising the importance of listening to people and taking appropriate measures: “...prioritising the needs of pedestrians in cities and promoting innovative forms of transportation.”