( 2.1 )

Promoting sustainable fair, and accessible mobility

València has been working for decades on promoting a model of sustainable, accessible, and fair mobility. To achieve this, mobility is addressed in a global and systemic manner, considering the current situation, needs, and the areas for improvement that can have the most positive impact, without causing unwanted negative consequences. In this regard, three main lines of action stand out: pedestrian mobility, cycling mobility, and public transport mobility.

1. Pedestrian mobility

a. Accessibility of bus stops and creation of new pedestrian crossings: Improvement of accessibility at 740 bus stops (including the installation of tactile paving and the extension of platforms at articulated bus stops to improve access) and the creation of various new signalised pedestrian crossings to improve cross-traffic permeability on roads with high traffic volumes. By the end of 2024, about 90% of bus stops are accessible.
b. School routes: Collaboration with schools to define safe routes and school environments around them. Currently, more than 100 school routes have been completed.
c. Residential streets: Signposting streets as residential areas to establish a maximum speed limit of 20 km/h, with pedestrian priority over vehicles. Currently, more than 25 km of such roads exist.
d. Installation of crossings with traffic light countdowns: Installation of crossings with traffic light countdowns to promote safe passage for people with visual impairments. Between 2023 and 2024, the percentage of crossings with countdowns increased from 9% to 16%, and it is expected to reach 47% by 2028.

2. Cycling mobility

a. Bike lanes: The city has significantly increased its network of bike lanes, now reaching 220 km of bike lanes and 38 km of cycle streets, which will increase by 7% (15 km) in the coming year. Between July 2023 and July 2024, the number of bicycle passages across loops throughout the city has increased from 224,266 to 232,226, an increase of 7,960 passages, representing a 3.5% growth.
b. Cycling neighbourhoods: The first cycling neighbourhood (Ciclobarrio) was implemented in the Ruzafa district in September 2024. The speed limit will be set at 20 km/h, reinforced by specific signage.

3. Public transport mobility

a. Sustainability and decarbonisation of public transport, with the approval of a 172 million euros investment over four years, which will allow 93% of the bus fleet to be electric or hybrid by 2028.
b. BRT (Bus Rapid Transit): Establishment of a prioritised or exclusive lane for public transport along the 2,900 meters of Blasco Ibáñez Avenue, alongside other measures such as lowering the bike lane to the road in certain sections and widening sidewalks for pedestrian improvements.
c. Segregation of bus lanes: Segregating bus lanes in the city to separate public transport routes from private vehicle traffic, minimising the impact of congestion on the routes and increasing the commercial speed of buses. This increase in speed will lead to substantial improvements in the service, optimising frequencies and reducing waiting times at bus stops, which is of particular importance in public perception of the service. Currently, there are 66 km of bus lanes, which have increased by 8% in the past year.

4. Other measures

a. Response to the DANA 2024: following the tragic flooding caused by the DANA of 29 October, the transport infrastructure suffered extensive damage, including roads, streets, metro lines and buses. In response to this, we responded, in coordination with different administrations, to implement certain measures to recover mobility and transport in the affected areas as much as possible, with flexible and emergency solutions.
b. Sensors for loading and unloading bays and accessible parking spaces (PMR): Deployment of a sensor system for accessible parking spaces (PMR) and loading/unloading bays. This will allow citizens to access real-time information about the availability of these new sensor-equipped parking spaces through the “App València” and the Municipal Geographic Information System (Geoportal), reducing additional traffic caused by the search for a free space, and thereby lowering traffic-related pollution and noise, improving overall sustainability. By 2024, the percentage of sensor-equipped C/D and PMR spaces will increase from 22% to 57%.
c. Energy savings: In relation to traffic lights, 15.5% of halogen bulbs (9,330) are being replaced with LED lights, reducing consumption by 80%. Additionally, 32,045 LED bulbs from before 2017 (51.1% of the total) are being replaced with more efficient ones. These measures will result in energy savings of €500,000 per year.
d. Establishment of Low Emission Zones: Two low emission zones will be implemented in the city to restrict access, circulation, and parking of the most polluting vehicles, in compliance with national regulations, and to improve air quality.

Why is it an emblematic project?

The different lines of action described aim to encompass and improve the coexistence of all forms of mobility in the city while promoting the rational use of private vehicles.

Their transformative potential is very high, as they not only seek to reduce the environmental impact of transport but also improve urban quality of life and address the accessibility and safety needs of citizens, promoting significant changes in the use of public spaces and resources.

For example, pedestrian mobility promotion projects not only have the potential to reduce the use of private vehicles but also ensure that people of all ages and abilities can move safely. These projects reduce the risk of accidents and foster more walkable, community-friendly environments.

Cycling mobility promotion projects, like those for pedestrians, also have a clear impact on improving public health by encouraging more active modes of transport. At the same time, they provide safety for all types of users and ensure harmonious coexistence between the various vehicles in the city.

On the other hand, projects focused on sensor technology, energy efficiency, or the creation of low emission zones not only have a clear impact on reducing energy consumption and fossil fuel use, but they also increase the city's intelligence and enable more efficient, connected management.

Contracts, tender documents, by-laws

Low Emission Zone (ZBE) Ordinance: In the approval phase.
Bus Stop Accessibility Contract https://contrataciondelestado.es/wps/portal/!ut/p/b0/04_Sj9CPykssy0xPLMnMz0vMAfIjU1JTC3Iy87KtUlJLEnNyUuNzMpMzSxKTgQr0w_
Example of a Bike Lane Construction Contract https://contrataciondelestado.es/wps/portal/!ut/p/b0/DcoxCoAwDADA1zhHBxfBoYhu4ljbRUIbJBiraOz77Xhw4GEFnzDzjspXQil2kegWTk
ZBE https://contrataciondelestado.es/wps/portal/!ut/p/b0/04_Sj9CPykssy0xPLMnMz0vMAfIjU1JTC3Iy87KtUlJLEnNyUuNzMpMzSxKTgQr0w_

Areas and other stakeholder involved

EMT València
City Council, Mobility and Public Safety
Smart City València
Contracted Companies

Budget

Contract for bus stop accessibility: €1.9 million (NGEN)
Bike lanes: €600,000 km approx. (NGEN)
BRT (Bus Rapid Transit): €2.6 million (NGEN)
Low Emission Zones (LEZ): €8.9 million (NGEN)
The rest of the actions are included within the mobility service maintenance contracts

Lessons learned and recommendations

A global vision of mobility: Public space is shared and limited, and mobility is a complex system. If isolated solutions are proposed to improve mobility for specific users without considering the system as a whole, the effectiveness of the measures may be lost, or dysfunctions can arise. Therefore, it is necessary to adopt a global vision of mobility that integrates public transport, private transport, urban logistics, as well as cycling and pedestrian mobility. In this regard, the City Council of València works on all aspects of mobility, paying particular attention to vulnerable users.
Road safety: To promote a shift towards more sustainable modes and the rational use of private vehicles, the role of road infrastructure is essential. Furthermore, with the emergence of new forms of mobility (e.g., Personal Mobility Vehicles or PMVs), it is crucial to ensure that both new and existing infrastructure provides safe conditions for all users, especially the most vulnerable. The City Council of València systematically conducts road safety audits at the city's most conflict-prone points to analyze user behavior and the characteristics of the infrastructure, with the aim of proposing improvements.
Technology as an ally: Thanks to mobile applications, citizens and businesses can access more information about mobility, which can lead to reduced traffic congestion or greater use of sustainable modes such as public bicycles or public transport. The City Council of València has made a significant effort to equip a large portion of taxi, PMR (accessible), and loading/unloading spaces with sensors, providing users with real-time occupancy information.
Road safety education and awareness are essential: Road safety education and the promotion of a culture of sustainable mobility are key elements in achieving this goal. The City Council of València runs ongoing road safety campaigns in coordination with the local police, both in schools and through street-level awareness campaigns. The European Mobility Week framework is also leveraged to reinforce the message of promoting sustainable mobility habits.
Recovery of mobility after the DANA: the serious damage caused by the floods of 2024 has prompted emergency measures, coordinated between different administrations, to allow the connection and mobility between the affected areas and other municipalities and neighbourhoods of València and its metropolitan area to be recovered as soon as possible.

Impact KPI'S

Accessible bus stops
Safe school routes
Square meters of safe school environments
Kilometres of residential streets
Kilometres of bike lanes
Kilometres of cycle streets
Kilometres of bus lanes
% of sensor equipped PMR, taxi, loading/unloading spaces
% of crossings with traffic light countdowns

Timeline

2024 First cycling neighbourhood in Russafa
2024 Accessibility improvements at 740 bus stops
2024 66 km of segregated bus lanes
2024 2,000 additional sensors for PMR and loading/unloading spaces
2025 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) on Blasco Ibáñez Avenue
2025 15 new km of bike lanes
2028 47% of crossings with traffic light countdowns

( 2.2 )European Green Capital 2021

Lathi (FIN)

“The European Green Capital Award took Lahti to a whole new league of environmental players. An international recognition like this has brought a lot of environmental activities and investments to the city as well as pride to our citizens. We are very committed to going forward as a leading environmental city.”

Mayor Mr. Niko Kyynäräinen

Lahti Gem

Lahti GEM –Green Electrification of Mobility Cluster– is a platform for companies, research, and education organisations as well as cities. The platform is established to generate and maintain cooperation for developing and commercialising technologies and solutions for the cleaner future of mobility. The European Green Capital year 2021 in Lahti mobilised the cluster development.

Top priorities of the cluster are the creation of solutions for electrification of heavy-duty transport and machines, developing and establishing charging and refuelling infrastructure for alternative fuels, and enhancing activities in carbon-neutral energy system development. Automation and digitalisation as well as data analytics play crucial roles as cross-cutting priorities. All transport modes are covered.

Lahti GEM's activities are open to all actors involved in the electrification of transport or who are interested in building the future of emission-free transport. There are more than 40 companies involved in the cluster already.

Lessons learned and recommendations

A rapid technological breakthrough is underway in electrified traffic. Tightening regulation and consumers' concern about climate change are generating a rapid change in traffic. The popularity of electric cars is growing, but many people do not know that electric transport is not only electric cars and batteries. It is also a change in the entire energy production and infrastructure.

Lesson to learn is also how city van work as a platform for development. Bringing companies and research to the same arena is the key.

Budget

Some projects linked with the theme and project coordinator. Companies have gathered development funding for their products and ideas.

Links with more information

( 2.3 ) How do other cities address this?

⋆ Green Leaf City Projects

Lappeenranta (FIN) ⋆

Cycling infrastructure and development of the public transport development.

Winterswijk (NLD) ⋆

Sustainable mobility for rural municipalities has been improved, thanks to the work and collaboration with other municipalities.

External link

Elsinore (DNK) ⋆

The Charging Infrastructure Strategy's goal is to coordinate the work of all relevant actors in developing an appropriate network of public charging stations throughout the municipality.

Treviso (ITA) ⋆

Bike to Work, using an app to track home-to-work commutes made with slow mobility means by residents of 18 municipalities, has promoted, through the allocation of over €100k in shopping vouchers, a reduction in pollution, leading to a savings of 80,907 kg of CO2, equivalent to 4,045 trees.

Cornellà de Llobregat (ESP) ⋆

Transformation of Avinguda dels Alps into a green and peaceful corridor of more than 1 km, with reduction of 2 traffic lanes, a cycle lane and new areas with trees and shrubs. The sidewalks have been widened and new raised pedestrian crossings.

External link

Nyborg (DNK) ⋆

More bike lanes: As part of Nyborg's climate action plan, we want to promote CO2-neutral mobility. Therefore, Nyborg has expanded the municipality's infrastructure with 14 km of bike lanes and launched a “borrow a free e-bike” campaign.

Viladecans (ESP) ⋆

Cap i peus: At Sustainable Mobility Week'24, citizen science pilot project will be launched: An App developed by Academia (UPC) & citizen volunteers. Goals: to collect data to improve the app algorithms & find out citizens mobility habits to make better decisions.

External link

Mollet del Vallès (ESP) ⋆

The new Urban and Sustainable Mobility Plan has recently been approved. The plan updates the previous Urban Mobility Plan and sets out measures (such as new pedestrian zones, improvements to public transport or a vehicle fleet study) for the next 6 years.

Liepāja (LVA) ⋆

Liepāja has developed an extensive network of over 63 km of bicycle paths, continuously expanding with each street reconstruction project.

External link

Ialoveni (MDA) ⋆

Green and socially responsible city logistics innovations SPOTLOG project.

External link

Turin (ITA) ⋆

ToMove is a Living Lab spread throughout the city and focused on the development of new smart and sustainable urban mobility scenarios, which use innovative cooperative, connected and autonomous mobility solutions, integrating them into the “Mobility as a Service” paradigm.

Guimarães (PRT) ⋆

“Mobility without Footprint” project educates local schools on sustainable mobility. It covers public transport, cycling, and accessibility, leading to co-created school mobility and accessibility plans for a safer home-school journey.

External link