EUROPEAN MOBILITY WEEK: Celebrating the Power of Public Transport
8.57 billion of annual ridership. More than 2,500 kilometres of metro network.
These figures alone offer a glimpse of the scale of UITP members’ contribution to metro systems in Europe. But the metro is only one piece of the puzzle. Every day, across Europe, UITP members operate and support a much broader ecosystem of sustainable mobility, from buses, trams and light rail to regional and suburban rail, shared mobility and much more.
And what better occasion than EUROPEAN MOBILITY WEEK to celebrate this diversity and to highlight the power of public transport to connect people, shape places and help drive the future of mobility?
Held every year from 16 to 22 September, EUROPEAN MOBILITY WEEK is the European Commission’s flagship awareness-raising campaign for sustainable urban mobility. Its goal is simple but ambitious: encourage people to rethink how they move and explore alternatives to the private car, including active mobility, public transport and other clean and smart transport solutions.
Across Europe, every year, UITP members are the true protagonists of the Week, bringing sustainable mobility to life through initiatives spanning all modes of transport. Below are just a few examples of how some of our members from across the continent are celebrating this edition.
Belgium: Walking the Talk on Sustainable Mobility
In Belgium, the Service Public de Wallonie has embraced this year’s theme, “Intergenerational Fairness,” by inviting citizens, municipalities, but also schools, businesses and public institutions to discover and, most importantly, try alternatives to the private car.
Walking, cycling, carpooling, shared mobility and public transport all feature in a wide programme of activities designed to show that sustainable mobility is not just a concept. It is a collection of choices that can become part of everyday life.
A particular focus is being placed on walking. It may be the simplest form of mobility, but its role in a sustainable transport system is anything but small.
Walking and public transport go hand in hand: in fact, around 90% of public transport users reach the network on foot (read more here). Most public transport journeys begin and end with a walk, or a cycle, and these small moments of everyday activity can add up to meaningful benefits for physical and mental well-being.
But walking also has a role beyond getting from A to B. It can help shape better public spaces, support healthier communities and make neighbourhoods more accessible and pleasant for people of all ages and abilities. Encouraging people to walk therefore also means designing streets and public spaces that are continuous, safe and welcoming.
In other words, sometimes the journey really does start with a single step.
Italy: Making Mobility About People
Milan is preparing to launch the first edition of MOBIDAYS, an initiative unfolding across the city dedicated to sustainable, accessible and inclusive urban mobility.
Organised by the City of Milan and AMAT – the City of Milan’s Mobility, Environment and Territory Agency, MOBIDAYS will turn Milan into a meeting point for ideas, experiences and people working towards more sustainable, accessible and inclusive mobility.
And public transport will be very much part of the experience. ATM, Azienda Trasporti Milanesi, will join the programme of talks while also taking MOBIDAYS out onto the streets, with a dedicated tram running throughout the week.
The main hub will be one of Milan’s most recognisable landmarks: Castello Sforzesco. Here, three complementary experiences will explore the present and future of urban mobility from different angles.
The Forum della Mobilità will host talks and discussions on issues ranging from public transport and accessibility to walking, cycling, shared mobility, logistics, public space and air quality.
Alongside the Forum, “Urban Revolution” will invite visitors to see Milan’s mobility landscape through a different lens. Developed within the EU-funded deployEMDS – European Mobility Data Space project, the exhibition will weave together data, images, projects and ideas to reveal how technology and mobility are changing the spaces and the everyday experiences that make up the city. And because mobility does not always have to be serious business, the “Traffic Panic” installation will bring these ideas to life through a large-scale, interactive maze. Visitors of all ages will be invited to explore how individual and collective choices can influence the way a city moves.
Because public transport does more than get us around. It helps make cities more liveable for everyone.
The relationship between mobility and public space is also at the heart of the activities organised by Gruppo Brescia Mobilità. In Pieve di Urago Mella, a neighbourhood preparing for the arrival of a new electric tram, the construction works inaugurated in July are already beginning to reshape the area. With the new tram on its way, the programme will also invite people to discover more about the neighbourhood it is set to connect.
The project “Un quartiere da raccontare” (“A Neighbourhood to Tell”) involved graphic design and communication students in creating a visual portrait of Urago Mella, exploring the history, values and features that give the neighbourhood its character.
The project will then move from paper to pavement with guided tours of the neighbourhood led by students from the Communication and Art Didactics course. Their aim is to help residents and visitors rediscover Urago Mella at a moment of significant change, as the arrival of the electric tram transforms both its mobility and its urban landscape.
The tram will remain firmly in the spotlight when the Week reaches its peak on Sunday with Car-Free Day. A single ticket valid for the entire day will make public transport an easy choice for getting around and joining in the celebrations, encouraging people to leave the car behind.
And there will be plenty to join in with. Brescia’s historic city centre will host a range of activities, including “One, Two… TramSchool!”, an afternoon programme introducing younger generations to the new infrastructure and giving them a first glimpse of the future electric tram.
EUROPEAN MOBILITY WEEK will take on a distinctly local flavour across the network of TPER (Trasporto Passeggeri Emilia Romagna), with activities in Bologna, Ferrara and Parma highlighting different aspects of sustainable and inclusive mobility.
The main event will take place in Bologna’s Piazza Maggiore on 20 September, where TPER will showcase its vision for more sustainable transport through a full-day programme. From a hydrogen-powered bus representing the Group’s decarbonisation efforts to Corrente, its electric car- and scooter-sharing service, visitors will have the opportunity to explore a range of alternatives to private car use. Information on public transport services, fares and incentives will also be available, alongside Sosty’s solutions for parking and cycling mobility.
The programme will also put the spotlight on the people and technologies that can help make mobility more inclusive. TPER will host a round table bringing together relevant stakeholders to discuss accessible transport, with a focus on digital accessibility, inclusive mobility and practical tools for improving access to transport for everyone.
The celebrations will continue elsewhere in the region. In Ferrara, schools, residents and visitors will be invited to take part in a giant “Snakes and Ladders”-style game exploring themes such as smart mobility, sharing, fleet renewal and digital ticketing. Meanwhile, on 19 September, Corrente will take the shared mobility message to Piazza Garibaldi in Parma.
Vienna, Austria: One Ticket, Unlimited Opportunities
In Vienna, Wiener Linien passengers will be able to turn a single ticket into a day pass on 22 September, giving them another reason to leave the car parked and explore the city by public transport.
From walking to trams, from neighbourhood projects to city-wide forums, EUROPEAN MOBILITY WEEK shows that sustainable mobility is not about one solution or one mode of transport. It is about giving people more choices and making those choices easy, attractive and accessible.
And this is where the Power of Public Transport comes into play. Public transport is not simply about getting from A to B: it connects people and places, supports healthier and cleaner cities, creates opportunities and helps make urban life more accessible and liveable.
Across Europe, UITP members are putting these benefits into practice and showing that every journey can be part of a bigger move towards better cities for people, planet and progress (read more about the Power of Public Transport here).
