Traffic management refers to the concept of promoting sustainable transportation and managing the demand for car use by changing the attitudes and behaviors of travelers, especially at the corporate, organizational, and institutional levels (European Union Urban Transport Framework). It is seen as an effective approach to support “hard” transportation infrastructure, such as permanent facilities. Sustainable transportation transformation includes public transport, Low Emission Vehicles (LEV), cycling, walking, as well as carpooling, telecommuting, and reducing travel demand, among other clean transportation solutions. This concept revolves around “soft” measures that support, including information and promotion initiatives, education and training programs, organizational policy changes, and more specific measures such as assessing the accessibility of public transportation, scheduling, and arrangements.
Mobility actions are a response to the growing importance of traffic management, as evidenced by the European Mobility Week in last year. Over 800 initiatives from non-governmental organizations, schools, companies, and local authorities have been registered, promoting a shift in behavior towards sustainable urban transportation culture. The Mobility Actions platform of the European Mobility Week provides a space for sharing and promoting local solutions in addressing various travel challenges.
For example, Rome (Italy) collaborated with Dublin (Ireland) and Lisbon (Portugal) on the “Bike Heroes” project aimed at interacting with children aged 10-14 to address urban travel challenges related to bicycles. The Mobility Actions platform developed smart design solutions to overcome cycling obstacles, which were then shared with the public. The initiative encourages youth to ride bicycles and actively travel, while also striving to provide safe urban travel for other vulnerable groups such as the elderly or disabled. By helping road users understand the unique perspectives of children on modern travel challenges, this traffic management concept raises awareness of sustainable travel for everyone.
Meanwhile, in France, the “Mobility Action” registered by the Morlaix Association focuses on creating sustainable travel routes to encourage people to choose public transportation or active travel modes during short weekend trips, holidays, or business travel. Morlaix collaborates with the French railway network (SNCF) to provide discount codes through the platform, allowing travelers to benefit from choosing sustainable transportation options.
Unlike expensive infrastructure solutions, mobility management measures do not necessarily require substantial financial investment, although infrastructure solutions are essential, planning and implementing them can be more challenging.
