Source: Tomorrow.city

EIT Urban Mobility has published the second edition of its Costs and Benefits of the Urban Mobility Transition study, the findings of which support the logic of the mobility pyramid, where active mobility and public transport are prioritised over private motorised transport, for optimum environmental and financial returns. The study was developed in conjunction with consultancy firm TRT Trasporti e Territorio.

The mobility pyramid concept is based on that of the familiar food pyramid, and was originally conceived by Danish architecture company Jaja. The pyramid format is intended to encourage people to make more choices from the base and lower parts of the pyramid structure, and the least from the top, with Jaja stating simply that “It’s good for you, your wallet and the environment.”

The position of different transport modes in the pyramid is a result of ranking based on their efficiency, impact on the environment, and their societal benefits.

• Active mobility: This forms the pyramid’s base section, with net-zero emissions, and should be the most dominant mode for sustainable transport networks and systems.
• Public transport: This forms the mid-section of the pyramid, and is an efficient, scalable mode enabling people to travel further and quicker in scenarios where active mobility is not feasible. EIT Urban Mobility emphasises that public transport systems should be “inclusive and accessible, available to all.”
• Private motorised transport: The tip of the pyramid represents the least sustainable, but often most ubiquitous mode of transport, due to car-focused urban planning.

The EIT Urban Mobility study’s findings support the hierarchy of the pyramid, demonstrating that active mobility and public transport translate into significant health benefits, reductions in carbon emissions, and cost savings.

Study methodology

The study explores three scenarios of emissions reduction through simulations in twelve city prototypes. These scenarios are evaluated using carbon emissions indicators, plus financial costs and benefits linked to the interventions, and simulated to align with the Green Deal objectives.

Cost benefits

The study’s third scenario, which prioritises the achievement of net-zero emissions by 2050, found that the encouragement of a shift towards walking and cycling could result in health benefits equating to approximately €850-1,170 per capita. The WHO’s Health Economic Assessment Tool (HEAT) is cited in the study, which has found that “greater levels of activity yielding greater benefits for individuals, particularly those who are induced into active modes from relatively inactive lifestyles.”

Scenario three – assuming the highest reduction in private car trips – is also the one which demonstrates the greatest cost savings for transport users. A shift in habits from private motorised transport towards more public transport and shared mobility translates into the highest cumulated cost savings per inhabitant – individual savings of up to €2,900 per inhabitant in 2030, and €15,000 per inhabitant by 2050.

The role of shared mobility

Shared mobility solutions, such as bikes or scooters, can serve as key connection modes within the transport ecosystem, particularly for first- or last-mile connectivity to public transport and destinations. The study emphasises that, while such services have the potential to enhance accessibility, there must be proper planning in place, to allow these services to complement public transport effectively. Without holistic planning and proper integration, shared mobility can actually reduce public transport use, rather than support it.

Investment in public transport

The study highlights that investment in reliable, efficient public transit systems can increase ridership by 7% by 2030, when combined with regulations such as low emissions zones which are designed to discourage individual car usage. An important additional benefit is that road traffic deaths decrease when users switch from private cars to urban public transport, as trams, buses and metro systems all lead towards safer streets.