Did you know that 55% of the world's population lives in cities?

Although COVID times are changing numbers, it is true that this is an increasing number, as it is estimated that at least one million people move to cities every day. Many villages are now depopulated due to the concentration of the majority of the population in the cities. Added to this is the current population growth, which means an increase in the demand for all kinds of services in cities all over the world.

In this situation, traditional infrastructures fall short when it comes to providing citizens with a good quality of life in cities. The overcrowding of cities makes it much more difficult to manage limited resources.

Particularly worrying is the demand for transport in cities. Traditional mobility is not prepared to cope with such a volume of private vehicles, which has led to problems such as heavy traffic congestion in cities.

The increase of traffic in cities brings with it very negative effects on the livability of cities, the most important of which is pollution.

However, concern for the environment and the advances brought by new technologies have motivated cities to look for sustainable urban mobility alternatives to create a better future for cities.

In this article we will tell you why it is necessary to choose sustainable mobility, and how big cities are implementing new models of smart mobility. Keep reading!

The threat to traditional mobility

It is already a reality that traditional mobility is coming to an end. The US has set 2035 as the date to end the sale of combustion cars.

This is not surprising considering that most of the existing air pollution is caused by transport and the excessive demand of energy in cities.

The environmental issue is at a turning point, as according to the report published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2021, our planet is already at the point of no return due to the increase of the earth's average temperature.

Traditional mobility also poses a threat to our health as it leads to poor air quality with high pollution, which is closely linked to an increase in cases of cancer and respiratory diseases.

For these reasons, governments all over the world have decided to promote sustainable urban mobility, to try to alleviate all the drawbacks of traditional mobility.

What is sustainable urban mobility?

Sustainable urban mobility seeks to improve the problems arising from poor transport management. It aims to optimize services to make life in cities better and to reduce the environmental impact.

Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans define the changes that need to be made in cities and how to implement them in order to achieve more efficient transport. Different countries have created models adapted to their own living circumstances in order to achieve this.

The basis for carrying out these improvement plans is Smart Mobility, or intelligent mobility, which relies on new technologies to manage transport in cities.

Sustainable urban mobility promotes active mobility, reduces traffic, reduces dependence on the private vehicle and increases the use of sustainable public transport.

The commitment of cities such as Sevilla to promote the use of electric scooters is a perfect example of the measures that are being implemented to expand a more sustainable mobility.

Large cities that are examples of sustainable urban mobility

Large cities are the biggest players when trying to make mobility more sustainable. Due to their high occupancy, city governments are interested in ensuring favorable conditions for their population.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam has been committed to cycling for a long time. 60% of urban journeys are by bicycle thanks to the network of cycle paths that has been implemented in the city over the years.

In addition, Amsterdam is implementing the "Clean Air 2025" programme with the aim of eliminating CO2 emissions from vehicle transport.

The city plans to incentivise the purchase of electric cars and to have plenty of charging points around the city.

Seoul

The use of public transport in South Korea's capital is highly demanded by its citizens.

The city has already renovated its bus fleet, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 35%.

Currently, the Korean capital is planning to increase the city's pedestrian areas and incorporate bike systems free of charge for the population.

The population also relies on applications that create community networks to improve communication between citizens.

Seville

For several years, Seville has been committed to the integration of new technologies to manage the city's services. Thanks to Meep, Seville has become the first Andalusian city to offer its citizens a digital application that integrates its various transport services. This way, users can plan, book and pay for available transport services using their smartphones.

Copenhagen

This city is another significant example of a place where cycling has been prioritized as the main form of urban transport. There are more than 350 km of bicycle lanes in Copenhagen. In addition, the government has promoted walking, improving urban spaces to make them accessible to pedestrians.

There is no doubt that the future of mobility in cities is sustainable. If you want to know more about how to bring sustainability to transport, do not hesitate to contact Meep, together we will build a better future!

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*Main image: By Xan Griffin | Unsplash