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Across Europe, cities are developing Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) to create cleaner, safer and more liveable urban areas. These plans offer an important opportunity to shape the future of urban mobility. By working together, public authorities, mobility providers and local stakeholders can ensure that sustainability goals are achieved while maintaining accessibility and connectivity.

And by understanding how residents, commuters and businesses actually move, a credible SUMP starts with real travel patterns across the entire urban area, including connections between city centres, outer districts and surrounding municipalities.

Policy must reflect place

There is no universal model for an effective SUMP. A measure that works in a dense capital may be ineffective in a medium-sized city or its surrounding region.

City size, population density, public transport coverage and the location of employment and essential services all affect the alternatives available. Even where public transport is strong in city centres, connections between residential areas, business parks and neighbouring municipalities may be less effective. Smaller and medium-sized cities can have shorter distances, but also less frequent public transport and greater car dependency.

Look at complete journeys

Daily life rarely consists of a single, predictable journey. People combine work, education, care, shopping and other responsibilities. Shift workers may travel when public transport is limited. Families, carers, tradespeople and service providers may need flexibility, carry equipment, or access to several destinations.

Mobility policy should therefore consider the complete journey. For many people, the realistic solution is not a choice between the car and public transport, walking or cycling. It is a combination of travel modes.

Measure accessibility, not only traffic reduction

Reducing vehicle movements can be a useful objective, but it should not become the only measure of success. A SUMP should also demonstrate whether people can still reach work, education, healthcare, shops and social activities safely, efficiently and affordably.

That requires policymakers to test every major mobility measure against practical questions:

• Does it improve access across the whole functional urban area?

• Is a credible alternative available at the times people need it?

• Is that alternative reliable, convenient and affordable?

• Does the measure work for different journey purposes and personal circumstances?

• Could existing mobility infrastructure help achieve the same objective more effectively?

These questions do not weaken sustainable mobility policy. They make it stronger, fairer and more likely to gain lasting public support.

From parking policy to integrated mobility management

This is where parking operators can contribute more than parking capacity. With locations, infrastructure, operational experience and insight into mobility behaviour, we can help municipalities turn mobility ambitions into practical solutions.

Effective parking management is key. Rather than viewing parking as a problem to be removed, cities can use strategically located off-street parking and Mobility Hubs to reduce the spatial footprint of passenger cars, free up valuable public space and support seamless connections between different modes of transport.

Mobility Hubs and Mobility Zones can become connected elements of the urban mobility network, supporting interchange, accessibility, electric mobility, urban logistics and efficient use of scarce public space.

Future of urban mobility

The future of urban mobility is not about banning cars. It is about using available space more intelligently. By moving parking off-street where possible, cities can create more room for walking, cycling, public transport, green spaces and vibrant public areas, while remaining accessible and economically attractive.

As cities develop the next generation of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans, parking should be considered an integral part of the mobility ecosystem. A successful SUMP 3.0 balances liveability with accessibility, environmental objectives with economic vitality, and sustainable transport ambitions with the everyday mobility needs of residents, commuters and visitors.

The strongest mobility strategies create realistic choices. They recognise that different journeys require different solutions and that all transport modes, including the passenger car, have a role to play within a well-managed urban mobility system.