[2.2] Mobility Management

What is Mobility Management?


Mobility Management is an innovative demand-oriented approach to promote sustainable mobility. It is based on information, co-ordination and motivation, and complements traditional (infrastructure orientated) transport planning to achieve a modal shift away from unsustainable vehicle use. 

A UK government report states that ‘high intensity’ use of mobility management can lead to <21% in peak time urban traffic, compared to 5% ‘low intensity’; and that €1 spent on ‘soft measures’ could bring €10 of benefits in reduced congestion alone.  Added benefits are environmental (e.g. Air Quality, urban environments) and social (access to mobility among non-car-owners).

Mobility management is still a ‘minority’ policy field, although its importance cannot be underestimated.  It is destined to play an increasing role in European policy following recent communications on the use of Sustainable Urban Transport Plans and Strategic Environmental Assessments, as well as supporting the EU’s pledge to cut road deaths by 50% by 2010. A European city network, ‘ACCESS–Eurocities for a New Mobility Culture’, enables practitioner municipalities to exchange information.