Actions & Thematic Sections
The view that, planning sustainable urban mobility makes a significant contribution to the quality upgrade of everyday life in cities, has become extremely widespread.
The quality upgrade of everyday life in cities is achieved through an integrated network of smaller and larger improvements and interventions, such as more attractive public spaces, improved (road) safety, better air quality with less pollutant emissions and less noise.
Thus, the design of sustainable urban mobility, creates a lasting message that also works emotionally, as it concerns both the lives of all and the safety of young children. A message that must be constantly spread in every direction. .
Mobility is an extremely important catalyst for any local economy.
A factor of change for the better for everyone. A cleaner and therefore healthier environment together with the reduction of traffic congestion greatly contribute to the reduction of costs for the local community and create a more attractive environment for business and investment initiatives.
An environment, in the terms of the 21st century. It is precisely for this reason that we are talking about sustainable mobility.
It is no coincidence that this is the only way our cities can survive and develop, if they want to have a competitive profile at pan-European and global level.
SUMPs are inextricably linked to the upgrading of the environment, i. e. with positive environmental effects that improve air quality and reduce noise pollution.
Citizens, society as a whole, are gradually realizing these positive developments both in their health and in relation to the costs they often have to pay due to the degraded environment.
Awareness of changes for the better at all levels (health and economy) works both in the short and long term.
At this point, we must also emphasize the role that SUMPs play in tackling some of the issues arising from climate change.
The practical achievement of sustainable mobility can only result from the well-designed creation of multimodal solutions for our transports from one point to another.
Because at this point social groups with different needs are actually involved, experts and bodies representing the business world and the citizens also participate in the planning. This creates effective solutions for everyone.
Obstacle-free movement: Improved accessibility
The need for efficient use of financial resources is timeless, but in the times we are going through it acquires a critical dimension as resources are limited.
Through the design of sustainable urban mobility, the "classic" priorities change; we move away from the idea of large and costly road projects and move towards a balanced mix of measures in which low-cost mobility management plays a very important role.
A concrete example of this reasoning is the “polluter pays” principle.
Applying this already proven principle, on the one hand, adds revenue that can be used to finance alternative modes of transport and, on the other hand, multiplies the momentum to change everyone's mentality.
A sustainable urban mobility plan without the involvement of affected citizens and actors is inconceivable. The understanding and acceptance of SUMP by society is, after all, a necessary condition for its success.
Everyone must feel that the city is theirs, that it belongs to them, that they deserve to improve their lives in it and that the authorities care, listen to the needs and act accordingly. It concerns everyone and does not exclude anyone.
Gaining the
acceptance of society
It is now deeply ingrained that in order to succeed in a plan for shaping urban mobility with a sustainable perspective, its researchers, its experts, must first of all listen carefully to those affected by it and take their opinions into account. Often, local actors, because they know well, know better than anyone what is happening in their area, are able to offer useful and effective solutions.
Then, the integrated and interdisciplinary approach to planning, will promote the balanced development of all alternative modes of transportation, while cultivating a shift to more sustainable modes.
Through the integrated and consistent implementation of the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans, apart from all the other advantages, the legal obligations of the state to the EU are fulfilled to a large extent, as well as the relevant directives for air quality and the National Regulations for noise pollution.
We utilize synergies, multiply the correlations
Administrative constraints, fragmentation of responsibilities in different bodies that sometimes lead to contradictory decisions, are just some of the causes that create problems in urban mobility. This is exactly what the SUMP aims to solve, as their goal is the “functional city” that connects the different regions with a flexible national network and next, with the European transport network. SUMPs promote and inspire all stakeholders at all levels of policy and governance to cooperate in planning with the common goal of effective functionality in cities.
Implementing SUMPs brings the overall qualitative upgrade of the cities. As a result, their competitiveness acquires new dynamic value and access to finance becomes easier, especially when proposals bring innovative solutions and integrated proposals.
More competitive cities, more funding
Planning in times
of rapid change
It is commonly accepted that we live in a time of turbulence and rapid change. Challenges know no boundaries and anything, wherever it happens, can affect the whole world. At the heart of it all is the climate, economy and security. At the same time, with the rapid technological development, values, habits and expectations change. New options are entering everyday life that no one had imagined until yesterday. But how confident are we that the majority will take advantage of the technology offers in a timely manner? How will we change culture in mobility, in our perception of the development of the economy of cities and municipalities to meet the macroeconomic and demographic challenges?
The answer is including planning and sustainability in the philosophy of our every action.
