On July 29, young people (aged 16 to 24) and policy-makers met online to discuss the importance and need to collaborate in mobility policy-making processes.

The online workshop, which was organised as part of EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK, and moderated by ICLEI Europe, kicked off with a presentation by Rut Einarsdóttir of the Icelandic National Youth Council. She highlighted that while many cities may invite young people to share their opinions, this does not necessarily mean policy-makers actually listen. Cities must move away from involving younger representatives of the community as tokens and photo accessories, and adopt instead a meaningful youth engagement policy where young people’s voices are both heard and listened to. Young people are a big and growing proportion of our societies, and studies have shown that involving them in the decision-making process benefits, in fact, everyone.

Recognising the need for cities and policies to reflect the needs of all residents, Sara Borei spoke about Young Friends of the Earth Europe’s mission to collect the mobility visions of young people across Europe by way of the SystemReset project. These visions form the basis of a proposal for the European Green Deal. The project involved over 3,000 young representatives, at least 500 of whom were underrepresented. The collected visions called for fewer cars, especially in city centres, more space for cycling and pedestrians, and the prioritisation of more sustainable modes of transport over more polluting ones - alongside further mobility education.

Young people have less disposable income, have lower access to a car, and are more reliant on public transport – yet our transport system is set up around the car. Dr. Sarah Collings of University of the West of England reaffirmed the link between transport and young people’s ability to thrive, specifically pointing out the toll that inadequate transport can play when it comes to physical and mental health, personal, and professional development. Including the voices of youth and young people in urban mobility planning decisions will help address widening health inequalities, while allowing young people to thrive. Moreover, some of the same solutions that improve inclusion are in line with wider environmental policy priorities.

The workshop discussions were enriched by the contributions of a diverse array of participants. A representative of a regional authority in Ireland brought to light the steps the organisation was taking to ensure that young people were considered in planning, including an event in which only they were invited as speakers. When posed with the question as to how to engage young people, audience members were quick to respond with suggestions: adjust traditional engagement methods to include online and gamification approaches, ensure accessibility by including multiple language options, and show them results that prove to them that their voices matter. These are important aspects for local authorities to keep in mind when organising sustainable urban mobility campaigns, including EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK.

For more information, to read the recommendations and to view the workshop recording, click here.

Last week, the European Commission proposed more ambitious targets that, if acheived, will put the EU's climate, energy, transport and taxation policies on track to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels.

Achieving these emission reductions in the next decade is crucial to Europe becoming the world's first climate-neutral continent by 2050 and making the European Green Deal a reality.

Recognising that transport emissions represent 25% of the EU's total greenhouse gas emissions, the Commission has set the goal of reaching a 90% reduction in transport-related greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Such a goal will require significant changes across the transport sector.

Focusing specifically on vans and cars, the Commission has proposed the following:

• 55% reduction of emissions from cars by 2030
• 50% reduction of emissions from vans by 2030
• 0 emissions from new cars by 2035

The growth of the market for zero- and low- emissions vehicles is also promoted. In particular, the Commission seeks to ensure that citizens have the infrastructure they need to charge these vehicles.

In addition, from 2026, road transport will be covered by emissions trading, putting a price on pollution, stimulating cleaner fuel use, and re-investing in clean technologies.

For more information, click here.

Join us 29 July, 11:00-12:30 (CEST) for our “Youth on the Move: Engaging young people in mobility planning and campaigns” workshop, where we will explore how youth and young adults have been involved in urban sustainable mobility planning to date, and how they can be more and better involved in the future.

The workshop will bring together youth and young adults, aged 16-24, and city staff, providing them with an opportunity to exchange ideas and knowledge regarding the needs of young people and opportunities for their involvement in urban sustainable mobility planning.

In addition, youth and young adults in attendance will have an opportunity to share their views and perspectives on how EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK is planned and organised in their respective cities.

In order to guarantee a lively discussion, the workshop will be limited to 30 participants.

Apply now for your chance to join us.

To help the EU build on its 2013 Urban Mobility Package and meet its 2050 climate target, the new Urban Mobility Initiative will propose measures to encourage EU countries to develop urban transport systems that are safe, accessible, inclusive, affordable, smart, resilient, and emission-free.

The initiative will also address transport pollution and congestion, and draw lessons from COVID-19’s effect on public transport to help with the transition to a climate-neutral economy and emission-free transport at local level.

The European Commission is inviting the general public and stakeholders to express their opinion on this new initiative. The Open Public Consultation launched yesterday and closes 23 September 2021.

For more information and to share your views, click here.

Alfonso Gil, Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Mobility and Sustainability, City of Bilbao, discusses what winning the EU Urban Road Safety Award means to the city.

What does winning the EU Urban Road Safety Award mean to the city of Bilbao?
Winning the award means a lot to us. It represents the collective effort of all of the residents of Bilbao who saw that change was needed. These were people who recognise that a cleaner city is one that is better to inhabit, so made efforts to improve pollution and noise locally. Now they see that their efforts have been rewarded by the European Commission. We are not alone in Bilbao in recognising that change is needed. Indeed, both Europe and the towns and cities that comprise it also have an appetite for change.

What has the reaction been among citizens and stakeholders to winning the award?
Everyone in Bilbao is very proud of this accolade. It is true to say that the citizens of Bilbao feel the prize as theirs, because individually and collectively they have made an effort to change. It is very important that the local community understand that these awards contribute greatly to their quality of life and above all to the improvement of their health. When commuters are not exposed to car fumes and noise, they live longer. A citizen who walks lives longer, a citizen who cycles lives longer. Therefore, let’s use sustainable and healthy modes of mobility to help reduce the strain on health services.

The city of Bilbao is a frontrunner when it comes to lowering speed limits in urban areas to 30km/h. What benefits have you seen from this policy? And what advice would you give to cities that are interested in doing the same?
Several studies illustrate that noise pollution caused by traffic has a negative impact on the health and well-being of city dwellers, leading to increases in the likelihood of developing heart disease, and illnesses such as Alzheimer’s. The negative health implications associated with air pollution caused by road traffic have also been well documented. Therefore, reducing speed limits in urban areas not only leads to fewer road traffic victims, but also results in a host of different health benefits.

If I were to offer advice to cities interested in reducing speed limits in their urban areas, I would say – be brave! Your reward will be local residents that live longer and healthier lives.

What advice would you give to cities that are looking to follow in your footsteps and win the EU Urban Road Safety Award?
If cities work hard to improve urban road safety then they will be able to compete for awards such as this. A city with zero road traffic victims is a city with less noise, and fumes, and one where its inhabitants live longer, and healthier lives.

If you are interested in applying for this year's edition of the EU Urban Road Safety Award, click here.