Concern about the negative impacts generated by mobility is growing in society as citizens perceive how these impacts are affecting quality of life, particularly in urban areas.
A Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) is a tool for cities to create a modern, sustainable transport system. To be effective, it should provide an integrated approach to all modes of transport while taking into account planning for the surrounding environment.
A successful transport policy is one that improves safety and security, reduces air and noise pollution, lowers emissions and energy consumption, improves efficiency and cost-effectiveness of transportation, and enhances the attractiveness and quality of the urban environment and urban design.
A Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan builds on the existing regulatory and policy frameworks as well as the existing planning practices and considers integration, participation and evaluation principles. It requires:
- a participatory approach involving citizens and stakeholders from the outset and throughout the process of decision-making, implementation and evaluation; building local capacities for handling complex planning issues; and ensuring gender equity
- a pledge for sustainability
- an integrated approach
- a focus on the achievement of measurable targets
- a review of transport costs and benefits
- a method.
The plan should have the positive effect of fostering a culture among planners and decision makers to strive for the truly sustainable development of urban transport.
Some measures that can be included in a Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan are described in the following best practices:
- Fostering cycling and walking through cycling infrastructure, bike-sharing schemes and promotion of walking
- Implementing a large-scale car-sharing scheme
- Integrated ticketing for public transport
- Improving the uptake of electric vehicles in urban areas
- Fostering passenger intermodality
- Implementing a congestion charge
- Limiting free parking spaces in cities
- Implementation of logistic service centres