Tag Archive: sustainable transport

  1. Sofia’s SUMP 2019-2035: Addressing Urban Mobility Challenges

    Comments Off on Sofia’s SUMP 2019-2035: Addressing Urban Mobility Challenges

    Source: Eltis

    The Urban Mobility Observatory, ELTIS, presents the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan case study of Sofia, Bulgaria.

    Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital, is experiencing rapid growth which is contributing towards a strained transport system, and unappealing livability. Despite being a desirable place to live and work, increased congestion and air pollution challenges this. To combat these issues, Sofia is taking action to transition towards a more sustainable mobility system, a complex task given the population’s persistent perception of cars as essential and/or prestigious. The city employs a collaborative approach, focusing on information sharing and cooperation to gradually foster sustainable transport solutions and behaviors.

    Sofia, the country’s economic hub, produces around 43% of Bulgaria’s GDP. Officially, it has about 1.3 million inhabitants, but estimates put the actual number between 1.6 and 1.8 million due to unregistered residents and commuters from nearby cities. Many commuters travel by car to the city center, where much of the economic activity is centered. High traffic has led to daily congestion and increased levels of air pollution. Car ownership has surged over the past three decades, with 663 cars per 1,000 inhabitants. The number of vehicles registered per capita in Sofia is one of the highest in Europe. A large proportion of the vehicles in use are older and therefore more polluting, the area has significant air pollution issues. It is estimated according to recent studies, that the health and economic costs of air pollution are equivalent to more than 10% of the city’s GDP.

    Objectives

    To address these challenges, Sofia adopted a Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) in 2019. The SUMP aims to achieve 5 main objectives by 2035:

    1. To reduce the negative consequences of transport development for the population and the environment.
    2. To enhance the attractiveness of the urban environment and increase the living standards of the population.
    3. To implement transport innovations to strengthen local mobility and economic development.
    4. To foster the safety of the population in the city’s transport system.
    5. To build an integrated and accessible-to-all transport network.

    Residents can also contribute to the development of the SUMP through an interactive platform designed to allow people to submit their suggestions for projects or activities, in addition to providing feedback for planned actions.

    To achieve these objectives, the plan recognizes that there need to be attractive alternatives in place to persuade people to make more sustainable mobility choices, including the development of existing walking and cycling networks.

    The Plan In Action

    Several initiatives were launched including, expanding cycling infrastructure from a 55.5km bicycle network in 2019 to 160km by 2025, introducing on-demand green public transport, and constructing a ‘Green Ring’ cycling path encircling the city center, thus improving mobility to over 30 neighborhoods. Currently, 5 major cycle lanes are under construction.

    Sofia has also adopted a programme for pavement renovations, as well as stricter parking enforcement throughout the city. The parking policy in the city’s new SUMP employs the idea that parking is a service that uses public resources and should therefore not be free, in 2021 controlled parking zones were significantly extended, and it is planned that the increased revenues from this will be used to fund pavement renewal, and public transport investments.

    Improving public transport is a key requirement to increase its usage. Sofia plans to gradually invest in transport services including buses, trams, and a metro. Over the past decade, Sofia’s metro network has extended significantly, with the latest extension opening in 2020. The network currently consists of 4 lines and 47 stations.

    Additionally, the Bulgarian capital is pioneering toward a green public transport fleet, in addition to the development of an integrated ticketing system. Special tickets have been introduced giving the public free access to the city by public transport when air pollution is either high or extremely high in an attempt to further discourage car usage. A unique initiative is the ‘Sofia Coin’ mobile app, which encourages active transport by rewarding users for choosing eco-friendly modes including, cycling, walking, and scooters. The data collected from the app is fed into mainstream mobility infrastructure planning.

    To further curb increasing car ownership, shared mobility services are also encouraged. Sofia is part of European projects like SUSMO to promote shared mobility deployment and public-private sector cooperation. The city’s Digital Transformation Strategy supports mobility management, including the development of platforms for car-pooling, flexible pricing models, and real-time data-driven transport planning.

    Looking to the Future

    While the long-term impact of the SUMP is still unfolding, Sofia’s approach to data-driven cooperation, and sustainable infrastructure development, provides valuable insights for other cities grappling with similar mobility challenges. Achieving sustainable mobility is a work in progress and there is no doubt more can be done. Previous actions may help with future actions including the introduction of a Low Emission Zone (LEZ). Previous attempts to implement this have failed in the past, but in 2023 a decision to try again and create a LEZ zone was approved.

    There has been improved awareness amongst the public and stakeholders due to the actions of the STUMP regarding the importance of taking action to reduce traffic and the air pollution it causes. Simaltanously, a start has been made in developing transport alternatives. Providing drivers with high quality sustainable mobility options will help reduce how dependent the public are on cars.

    Sofias STUMP has created a vision of alternatives for its residents, with each implemented action the alternatives improve, and people have more sustainable options.

    Challenges, Opportunities, and Transferability

    While every city is unique, attempts to replicate strategies do not necessarily guarantee success, Sofia offers valuable insights that could benefit other locations. Sofia’s method of collecting and sharing data has not only furnished vital information for planning and decision-making, but has also fostered better collaboration among stakeholders from diverse policy domains, and the private sector. Engaging with the private sector can stimulate the creation of novel mobility innovations, which should be evaluated based on their alignment with public policy objectives.

    Digital tools for mobility services also play a crucial role in driving behavioral change. These innovative applications have garnered substantial media attention and heightened awareness about viable mobility solutions. Nonetheless, in the absence of basic mobility infrastructure, and effective policies to deter excessive car use, it is unlikely that a large shift in transport modes will occur. The SUMP does however, set the course for an integrated approach. Starting with its development, each progressive step outlined within the SUMP moves the city closer to implementing measures for enhanced sustainable mobility.

  2. New SUMP topic guide on mobility management

    Comments Off on New SUMP topic guide on mobility management

    Source: Eltis

    How can we ensure that the growth of urban populations in European cities doesn’t lead to increased traffic, congestion, and pollution? The solution lies within mobility management, which offers adaptable strategies to promote sustainable transportation in diverse local contexts.

    Both Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) and mobility management share the common goal of encouraging the use of eco-friendly transportation methods. Mobility management measures are integral components of any comprehensive SUMP.

    To support urban planners and transportation practitioners in this process, the third Policy Support Group of the CIVITAS ELEVATE Coordination and Support Action has produced a Topic Guide on the Integration of Mobility Management for both Public and Private Organizations into SUMPs. This group includes experts from five organizations: European Platform on Mobility Management, Klimaaktiv mobil, Tisséo Collectivités, Alba Iulia Municipality, and Gdansk Municipality. It also involves the CIVITAS Policy Advisory Committee, TRT (Trasporti e Territorio), and stakeholders from the mobility management sector.

    Within the SUMP Topic Guide, a set of key recommendations is presented, accompanied by diverse examples of successful practices from across Europe. These examples underscore the advantages of effectively incorporating mobility management for both public and private entities into SUMPs across five critical domains: urban development, governmental bodies, businesses, education institutions, as well as the tourism and recreation sectors.

    The Topic Guide is an integral part of a compendium of EU guidance materials, complementing the revised second edition of the SUMP Guidelines.

    Click here to read the publication.

    Learn more about the SUMP Topic Guides.

  3. The 2023 Annual POLIS Conference will take place 29-30 November in Leuven, Belgium

    Comments Off on The 2023 Annual POLIS Conference will take place 29-30 November in Leuven, Belgium

    Source: POLIS Network

    Europe’s leading sustainable urban mobility event returns in 2023, after a record-breaking 2022 conference.

    The annual event provides an opportunity for cities and regions to showcase their transport achievements to a large audience of mobility experts, practitioners, and decision-makers, both public and private.

    Visit the POLIS website and learn more, here.

    Regarding the host city, and current President, Leuven, the Polis Network shared: “Leuven, Belgium, is a mission-driven city that excels through inspiring governance models and the systems put in place for the public to innovate and get involved in critical decision-making processes. Dynamic and diverse, Leuven is at the forefront of innovation: indeed, the European Commission awarded the city as the 2020 European Capital of Innovation for its unique cooperation model — one that unites residents, institutions, and organisations and allows them to co-innovate, test, and apply groundbreaking solutions to fight climate change, foster the quality of life and education, and promote a sustainable, accessible, and inclusive mobility system.“

  4. Research: The role of micromobility in reaching the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

    Comments Off on Research: The role of micromobility in reaching the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

    Source: Science Direct, A.G. Olabi

    A new study assesses micromobility progress, benefits, challenges, policy, and more in relation to the UN’s SDGs.

    Cities across the world are increasing their focus on creating connected, sustainable transport systems. A key framework for development in the 21st century is the United Nations’ SDGs, which aim to secure sustainable cities and communities, amongst other goals. New research from A.G. Olabi et al., published in the International Journal of Thermofluids, explores the roles of micromobility in reaching these ambitious goals.

    Research Abstract: “Micromobility is dominant in urban areas, enhancing transportation sustainability and assisting in fulfilling the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This review provides an overall assessment of micromobility: its role under SDGs, policy options, standards for data, micromobility regulations, emerging technologies, utilisation determinants, energy source, and energy storage for micromobility applications. The analysis shows that micromobility could play a major role in achieving the SDGs, specifically SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by lowering greenhouse gas emissions and reducing projected traffic accidents. Also, the effect on SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by reducing the transportation footprint, on SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by increasing transposition accessibility, reducing traffic congestion and improving the air quality, and equally on SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by reducing transportation footprint and increase the sources efficiency. Moreover, the analysis shows a clear gap in literature and publications on micromobility, especially in the area of energy management and energy storage. Furthermore, this review shows that new technology of renewable energy and energy storage, such as fuel cells, could play a significant role in achieving the sustainability of micromobility, therefore, achieving the SDGs.”

    Access the research in its entirety, here.

  5. Feedback call: Integrating Mobility Management into SUMP

    Comments Off on Feedback call: Integrating Mobility Management into SUMP

    Source: Eltis

    The latest draft Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning (SUMP) guide aims to provide guidance to urban mobility practitioners, policymakers, school management, and both public and private employers who wish to implement mobility management measures in their jurisdictions.

    The latest SUMP guide from Eltis is currently in draft form and will focus on five main areas where transport planning can better include mobility management: urban developments, public authorities, companies, the education sector, as well as the tourism and leisure sectors. Each sector will be fully explored, outlining key recommendations, and examples of excellent practice from across Europe.

    “The first draft of the Topic Guide has been developed by the Policy Support Group of the CIVITAS ELEVATE Coordination and Support Action, which consists of experts from five organisations (European Platform on Mobility Management, Klimaaktiv mobil, Tisséo Collectivités, Alba Iulia Municipality, Gdansk Municipality), the CIVITAS Policy Advisory Committee, TRT (Trasporti e Territorio), and a group of stakeholders from the mobility management sector.

    The public is warmly invited to participate in the consultation process. Public consultation is an important step of the process, as it allows stakeholders to contribute to the development of the Guide, as well as ensure that it is relevant to all urban mobility actors.”

    To contribute to the SUMP Guide’s public consultation, visit the Eltis website, here. The window for feedback is open until Tuesday 13 December 2022.

  6. Research: Electric bikes are 21% more fun and 13% more efficient

    Comments Off on Research: Electric bikes are 21% more fun and 13% more efficient

    Source: Electrek, Toll, M.

    The study, “It’s electric! Measuring energy expenditure and perceptual differences between bicycles and electric-assist bicycles,” was published in the latest issue of the Journal of Transport & Health.

    The new research aims to quantify the differences in energy expenditure, perceptions of difficulty, and acceleration between regular bikes and e-bikes in a bike-share system. Following a fitness evaluation, the 15 participants took two near-identical bike rides; once with an e-bike, and once with a regular bike. During the course of the ride, heart rate and speed were continuously measured, and participants shared their own perceptions of exertion and enjoyment.

    The study’s key results were as follows:

    • Individuals expended about 13% less energy on e-bicycles compared to conventional bicycles on a steady-state ride.
    • E-bikes and conventional bicycles provided moderate intensity physical activity.
    • Individuals reported higher enjoyment on the e-bike.
    • Individuals reported less exertion and difficulty on the e-bike.
    • Most participants reported preferring the e-bike for commute travel.

    Of course, results from any research with such a small sample size (n=15) should be considered with caution.

    Access the full research article, here.

  7. White Paper: Strategies to Reduce Employee Mobility Emissions

    Comments Off on White Paper: Strategies to Reduce Employee Mobility Emissions

    Source: Autonomy

    The new White Paper sees sustainable mobility network Autonomy partner with Capgemini Invent to present a report on Sustainable Corporate Mobility

    The report covers a range of topics, including organization-specific actions, regional initiatives, real-world obstacles, and potential solutions. The full summary, provided by Autonomy, can be read below:

    • How companies have a strong opportunity to impact employees’ mobility choices: Studies suggest that commuting constitutes as much as 98% of an employee’s work-related emissions. Employers have a responsibility to help their employees in reducing their emissions and there are many recent examples of companies rolling out initiatives to promote sustainable commuting habits. Examples of such initiatives from companies such as IKEA are explored throughout the white paper.
    • The origin and current state of corporate mobility regulations in France and other countries: Two and a half years after the Mobility Orientation Law came into force in France, 38% of private sector employers have responded, saying they have deployed a Company Mobility Plan (or FMD, Forfait de Mobilités Durables) within their organization. This is an increase of 12 points compared to 2021. Today, nearly 80% of employers are aware of this system, and 40% of organizations are considering deploying it. While this paper focuses on France as a use case, it also looks into other countries such as the Netherlands and Belgium. 
    • The obstacles companies are facing in developing real corporate mobility strategies:  There are a number of barriers to implementing corporate mobility strategies. For instance, regulations do not directly help companies to develop a corporate mobility strategy. In the case of France, while the LOM offers new features like the FMD (Company Mobility Plan) and the Crédit Mobilité (Mobility Credit), both these features do not directly translate into a majority of companies developing a strategy for corporate mobility. There is a problem with the legislation not sufficiently incentivizing companies to take action quickly.
    • Impactful solutions according to different companies’ constraints:  To address more diverse commuting patterns and incentivize employees to use greener transportation modes, companies usually start by improving their infrastructure, by offering secured parking spots for bikes and installing electric charging stations. In addition to this, companies can also provide subsidized costs to employees to use public transportation. While the current legislative framework is slowly encouraging companies to act on corporate mobility, a solid corporate mobility strategy needs the right governance and mobility solutions developed at the local level, accounting for each site’s characteristics. Lastly, there is an increasing availability of different tools that are available to companies to ease their relationship with third-party providers and change the way they provide corporate mobility plans. 

    Download the full report via the Autonomy website, here.

  8. EVS36: “Driving the transition to e-mobility” – Call for abstracts

    Comments Off on EVS36: “Driving the transition to e-mobility” – Call for abstracts

    Source: AVERE

    The 36th Electric Vehicle Symposium & Exposition has opened abstract submissions for its 2023 conference.

    The annual gathering of global EV experts will take place between 11-14 June, 2023 in the City of Sacramento, California. EVS36 features cutting-edge research and showcases innovative technologies and market developments.

    The call for abstracts relates to papers covering research, market and government activities across all fields related to hybrid, battery, and fuel cell technologies, associated infrastructure and services.

    All final papers will be published in EVS36 Proceedings and select papers will be published in the World Electric Vehicle Association (WEVA) Journal.

    All accepted presenters must register as delegates and attend the meeting to present.

    Abstract Submission Deadline: Friday, October 28, 2022 at 23:59 ET (UTC-5).

    Dull details can be accessed on the AVERE website, here.

    The submission portal can be accessed, here.

  9. E-fuels only able to supply 2% of European car fleet by 2035, study claims

    Comments Off on E-fuels only able to supply 2% of European car fleet by 2035, study claims

    Source: Euractiv, S. G. Carroll

    A new study claims that the low production levels associated with e-fuels, a hydrogen-derived fuel source advertised as a green solution for combustion engine vehicles, means that the alternative will only be able to cover 2% of the EU’s vehicle fleet.

    The analysis, carried out by clean mobility NGO Transport & Environment (T&E), predicts that e-fuel production will still be in its infancy by the time the draft EU ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars is enacted. Due to the theoretically carbon-neutral status of e-fuels (CO2 is captured for production), fuel manufacturers and automotive industry figures have pushed for the official classification as a petrol/diesel green alternative by European lawmakers.

    Essentially, this would extend the sell-by date of combustion engine vehicles beyond the current 2035 EU deadline. However, as suggested by the T&E study, this is not a viable alternative – just 5 million cars out of the EU’s fleet of 287 million could fully run on synthetic fuel in 2035.

    Yoann Gimbert, an e-mobility analyst at T&E, rejected claims that e-fuels represent a clean solution for cars, calling synthetic fuels a “Trojan Horse for the fossil fuel industry”.

    “E-fuels are presented as a carbon-neutral way to prolong the life of combustion engine technology. But the industry’s own data shows there will only be enough for a tiny fraction of cars on the road,” he said.

    On the other hand, the FuelsEurope trade association has referred to the analysis as “disingenuous and deeply misguided“. John Cooper, FuelsEurope Director General, argued that focusing on e-fuels only misses the trade association’s larger point, which is that a range of technologies and feedstocks can be deployed to decarbonize road transport beyond 2035, leading to a broader and more stable approach.

    Negotiations are currently underway between EU institutions to finalize CO2 emission standards for cars and vans, with the next round of discussions set to take place on 27 October, and the role of e-fuels sure to be a hot topic. Read the full Euractiv analysis here.

Campaign success

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.

Member profile

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.