A Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) is a long-term strategic plan that aims to improve urban mobility in a sustainable and integrated manner. It takes into consideration the environmental, social, and economic impacts of transportation and provides a roadmap for developing sustainable transport systems that meet the needs of people and the economy.
A SUMP typically involves a comprehensive analysis of the current transport situation in a city or urban area, identifying the key issues and challenges, and defining a vision and objectives for sustainable urban mobility. The plan then sets out a series of measures and actions to achieve these objectives, such as promoting public transport, cycling and walking, reducing the use of private cars, and improving infrastructure and transport services.
A SUMP involves collaboration between different stakeholders, including local authorities, transport operators, businesses, and citizens. It is designed to be an iterative process, with regular monitoring and evaluation to ensure that it remains relevant and effective.
The aim of a SUMP is to promote a sustainable, accessible, and efficient transport system that supports economic growth and improves quality of life for citizens. It is an important tool for cities and urban areas seeking to tackle transport-related challenges, such as congestion, air pollution, and social exclusion, while promoting sustainable development and a better quality of life for all.
What is the difference between traditional transport planning and Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning?
Traditional transport planning tends to focus primarily on improving mobility by increasing road capacity and reducing congestion, often through the construction of new roads or widening existing ones. This approach is often car-centric and tends to prioritize private car use over other modes of transport, such as public transport, cycling, and walking.
On the other hand, Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning (SUMP) takes a more holistic approach to urban mobility. It considers the wider social, economic, and environmental impacts of transport and seeks to create a more sustainable and integrated transport system that meets the needs of all citizens, not just those who drive cars.
A key difference between traditional transport planning and SUMP is the way in which different modes of transport are prioritized. While traditional transport planning often prioritizes private cars, SUMP prioritizes sustainable modes of transport, such as public transport, cycling, and walking. SUMP also seeks to reduce the overall demand for car travel by promoting alternative modes of transport and by encouraging the use of cleaner, low-carbon vehicles.
Another important difference is the level of stakeholder involvement. While traditional transport planning tends to be led by transport professionals and engineers, SUMP involves a wide range of stakeholders, including local authorities, transport operators, businesses, and citizens. This ensures that the planning process is more democratic and that the resulting transport system reflects the needs and aspirations of all stakeholders.
Overall, the key difference between traditional transport planning and SUMP is that the latter takes a more sustainable and integrated approach to urban mobility, prioritizing sustainable modes of transport and seeking to create a transport system that is accessible, efficient, and environmentally friendly.
Plan for sustainable mobility in the “functional urban area”
A plan for sustainable mobility in a functional urban area typically involves a long-term strategic approach that aims to improve mobility and accessibility in a sustainable and integrated way. This type of plan takes into account the unique characteristics and challenges of the urban area and provides a roadmap for developing a sustainable transport system that meets the needs of people and the economy.
The first step in developing a plan for sustainable mobility in a functional urban area is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the current transport situation. This involves identifying the key issues and challenges, such as congestion, air pollution, and social exclusion, and assessing the demand for different modes of transport, including public transport, cycling, walking, and car use.
Based on this analysis, a vision and objectives for sustainable urban mobility are defined. This vision should be aligned with wider sustainability objectives and should promote a transport system that is accessible, efficient, and environmentally friendly.
The next step is to identify a set of measures and actions that can be taken to achieve the vision and objectives. This may include promoting sustainable modes of transport, improving infrastructure and transport services, reducing car use, and encouraging the use of cleaner, low-carbon vehicles.
A key element of a plan for sustainable mobility in a functional urban area is stakeholder involvement. This involves engaging with local authorities, transport operators, businesses, and citizens to ensure that the plan reflects the needs and aspirations of all stakeholders. This can help to build support for the plan and ensure that it is implemented effectively.
Regular monitoring and evaluation are also important to ensure that the plan remains relevant and effective over time. This involves collecting data on key performance indicators, such as mode share, emissions, and travel times, and using this information to inform decision-making and to adjust the plan as necessary.
Overall, a plan for sustainable mobility in a functional urban area is an important tool for promoting a sustainable, accessible, and efficient transport system that supports economic growth and improves quality of life for citizens. It requires a long-term, strategic approach that takes into account the unique characteristics and challenges of the urban area and involves collaboration between different stakeholders.
Involve citizens and stakeholders
Involving citizens and stakeholders is a critical element of developing and implementing a sustainable mobility plan. Citizen participation and stakeholder involvement can ensure that the plan reflects the needs and expectations of the local community and promotes sustainable mobility that is accessible, efficient, and environmentally friendly.
Here are some ways to involve citizens and stakeholders in the development of a sustainable mobility plan:
- Public consultations: Organize public meetings, workshops, or online consultations to engage citizens and stakeholders in the planning process. These events provide an opportunity to share information, gather feedback, and identify concerns and priorities.
- Surveys: Conduct surveys to understand the travel patterns and mobility needs of citizens and stakeholders. This information can help to develop transport policies and measures that are tailored to the local context.
- Focus groups: Organize focus groups with specific user groups, such as seniors or people with disabilities, to understand their mobility needs and challenges. This can help to identify solutions that address the specific needs of these groups.
- Stakeholder workshops: Organize workshops with key stakeholders, such as transport operators, businesses, and local authorities, to discuss mobility challenges and identify opportunities for collaboration.
- Co-creation: Involve citizens and stakeholders in the co-creation of transport policies and measures. This approach can help to ensure that the solutions developed are tailored to the local context and have the support of the local community.
- Pilot projects: Implement pilot projects that involve citizens and stakeholders in the design and testing of new transport solutions. This can help to build support for new initiatives and identify potential barriers to implementation.
By involving citizens and stakeholders in the development and implementation of a sustainable mobility plan, it is possible to create a transport system that better reflects the needs and aspirations of the local community. This can help to build support for the plan and ensure that it is effective in achieving its objectives.
Cooperate across institutional boundaries
Cooperation across institutional boundaries is another critical element of developing and implementing a sustainable mobility plan. It involves collaboration between different stakeholders, including local authorities, transport operators, businesses, and citizens, to develop and implement sustainable mobility policies and measures.
Here are some ways to encourage cooperation across institutional boundaries in the development of a sustainable mobility plan:
- Create partnerships: Establish partnerships between different stakeholders to develop and implement sustainable mobility policies and measures. This can help to build trust, share resources and expertise, and ensure that policies and measures are aligned with the needs and expectations of all stakeholders.
- Joint decision-making: Involve different stakeholders in the decision-making process, using a participatory approach that allows for the exchange of different perspectives and ideas. This can help to ensure that policies and measures are tailored to the local context and have the support of the local community.
- Information sharing: Share information and data between different stakeholders to improve understanding of the transport system and its challenges. This can help to identify opportunities for cooperation and collaboration.
- Coordinated planning: Ensure that planning for sustainable mobility is coordinated across different levels of government and between different sectors. This can help to ensure that policies and measures are aligned with wider sustainability objectives and that there are no conflicts between different policies and measures.
- Joint funding: Coordinate funding across different stakeholders to support the development and implementation of sustainable mobility policies and measures. This can help to share resources and ensure that funding is used effectively.
By encouraging cooperation across institutional boundaries, it is possible to develop and implement sustainable mobility policies and measures that are effective and aligned with the needs and expectations of all stakeholders. This can help to build support for sustainable mobility initiatives and ensure that they are successful in achieving their objectives.
Expand all transport modes in an integrated manner
Developing all transport modes in an integrated manner is a critical element of developing and implementing a sustainable mobility plan. Integrated transport planning involves coordinating the development and operation of different transport modes, including public transport, walking, cycling, and private vehicles, to provide a seamless and efficient transport system that meets the needs of all users.
Here are some ways to develop all transport modes in an integrated manner in the development of a sustainable mobility plan:
- Prioritize sustainable transport modes: Prioritize sustainable transport modes such as public transport, walking, and cycling, to reduce reliance on private cars and promote environmentally friendly options.
- Develop a connected network: Develop a connected network of sustainable transport modes that allows users to move seamlessly between different modes of transport. This can be achieved by improving infrastructure, such as cycle paths, sidewalks, and public transport links.
- Promote intermodality: Promote intermodality, which involves encouraging users to switch between different modes of transport, such as cycling to a train station and then taking a train to their final destination. This can be achieved by providing integrated ticketing, bike-sharing schemes, and secure bike parking at transport hubs.
- Encourage the use of low-emission vehicles: Encourage the use of low-emission vehicles, such as electric and hybrid cars, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector.
- Use technology to improve integration: Use technology, such as mobile applications and smart ticketing systems, to improve the integration of different transport modes and make it easier for users to plan and pay for their journeys.
By developing all transport modes in an integrated manner, it is possible to create a sustainable mobility plan that provides users with a range of transport options that are environmentally friendly, efficient, and accessible. This can help to reduce congestion, improve air quality, and promote social inclusion.
Define a long-term vision and a clear execution plan
A long-term vision is a statement of the desired future state of an organization or individual that extends beyond the immediate goals and objectives. It outlines a broad perspective of where the organization or individual intends to be in the future and serves as a guide for decision-making and strategy development. A clear implementation plan, on the other hand, outlines the specific steps and activities that are necessary to achieve the long-term vision.
To develop a long-term vision, one needs to consider the current state of affairs, the trends, and the potential opportunities and challenges that may arise in the future. The vision should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). It should also be communicated effectively to all stakeholders to ensure buy-in and commitment to achieving it.
Once a long-term vision has been established, the next step is to develop a clear implementation plan. The plan should outline the specific actions, resources, and timelines required to achieve the long-term vision. It should also identify potential risks and mitigation strategies to ensure successful implementation.
The implementation plan should be broken down into smaller, more manageable goals and objectives that can be monitored and measured regularly. It should also involve collaboration and engagement of all stakeholders to ensure alignment and commitment to achieving the long-term vision.
In summary, a long-term vision provides a broad perspective of where an organization or individual intends to be in the future, while a clear implementation plan outlines the specific steps and activities required to achieve the long-term vision. Both are essential for achieving success and should be communicated effectively to all stakeholders.
