Urban mobility and safe and accessible transport for all

The session aims to:

• Deepen the knowledge around opportunities and challenges of sustainable mobility
• Showcase concrete action for sustainable urban mobility
• Introduce tools, innovation and ICT opportunities around sustainable urban mobility
• Identify and develop actionable sustainable urban mobility strategies that help delivering on the Agenda 2030, the Paris Agreement and the New Urban Agenda
• Inspire local change and motivate decision-makers and practitioners to join a global network of mobility change makers
• Introduce support mechanisms to develop concepts into bankable projects and funding opportunities
• Create a multi-sectorial and multi-stakeholder network of partners and practitioners to upscale action
• Promote collaboration between cities; mobility service providers and technology innovators

Urbanisation is increasing rapidly. If well-planned, urbanisation can be an enabler of socio-economic growth through agglomeration benefits. However, the consequences of unplanned urbanisation, growing motorization rates and social segregation are posing threats to environment, productivity and the health and well-being of people in cities.

Mobility is a key dynamic of urbanization, and the associated infrastructure invariably shapes the urban form. However, the usual response to addressing urban mobility challenges has been to build roads and other infrastructure to cater for the ever-increasing numbers of personal vehicles. This results in urban sprawl and low-density growth of cities over vast areas. Distances between functional, economic, social and civic destinations have become longer, leading to a growing dependency on cars and unsustainable freight systems.

Widespread traffic gridlocks have now become the norm in many cities, impacting urban life through negative externalities such as pollution, noise stress, and accidents. Transport is already responsible for approximately 28% of energy related GHG emissions, outdoor air pollution is causing 3.7 million premature deaths worldwide, traffic congestion results in severe economic losses due to time and fuel wastage of up to 10% of the GDP (example Lima, Peru), and 1.24 million people are being killed in road accidents every year which occur predominantly (92%) in low and middle-income countries.

It is time for a paradigm shift in urban transport planning that encourages compact cities and mixed-land use to increase accessibility and to reduce the need for transportation altogether. The paradigm needs to change in favour of more sustainable mobility concepts, such as affordable public transport systems with high passenger capacity and area coverage and low energy use. Urban space needs to be rethought in order to increase and encourage the use of non-motorized transport, such as walking or cycling. Streets need to be understood as public spaces that strengthen the connection between people and the places they share. Their designs need to be adapted to cater for the residents’ needs of active mobility, recreation and social interaction.

Urban mobility systems are increasingly witnessing a transformation arising from more innovation, ICT and creativity. Approaches of smart mobility and green freight illustrate a great opportunity to reduce congestion and foster faster, greener and cheaper transportation options. Electric and shared mobility systems have the potential to decarbonize the transport sector in the future.

The Special Session will initiate action towards integrated and innovative mobility strategies that are vital to achieve urban sustainability – and hence for the delivery of the Paris Agreement and the global commitments under the New Urban Agenda and Agenda 2030.

Q1: What kind of strategy is needed to accelerate urban mobility action? How do we learn more efficiently from best practice examples?

Q2: What tools and innovations can be useful in order to contribute to sustainable urban mobility?

Q3: What type of partnerships can boost a faster uptake of urban mobility action?

Q4: What mechanisms of resource mobilization for sustainable mobility do exist? How can they be accessed?

Q5: What forms of collaboration between Governments, including national and city governments; service providers and technology innovators can create better mobility and accessibility for all?

Q6: How do we move from sustainable urban mobility concepts to pilot projects and larger bankable projects – particularly in the developing world?

Q7: What are new transport-related research areas that should be explored further? What future opportunities/ innovations do we foresee?