CIVITAS - Mobility Management and Behavioural Change
The CIVITAS initiative
The CIVITAS Initiative works to make sustainable and smart urban mobility a reality for all in Europe and beyond.
CIVITAS is one of the flagship programmes helping the European Commission achieve its ambitious mobility and transport goals, and in turn those in the European Green Deal. It does this by acting as a network of cities, for cities, dedicated to sustainable urban mobility. Through peer exchange, networking and training, CIVITAS fosters political commitment and boosts collective expertise, equipping cities to put mobility at the centre of decarbonisation. Since its launch in 2002, CIVITAS has advanced research and innovation in sustainable urban mobility and enabled local authorities to develop, test and roll out measures via a range of projects. A series of ten thematic areas underpin these.
The need to shift to sustainable urban mobility is clear. Nearly 70% of EU citizens live in urban areas, where the effects of transport-produced greenhouse gas emissions – which account for a quarter of the EU’s total emissions – and noise pollution are felt most severely. These, alongside widespread congestion, are damaging quality of life and health. CIVITAS supports cities to make smart and sustainable urban mobility a reality for all. In doing so, it is ensuring that mobility is a driving force behind the creation of climate-neutral and resilient cities. The CIVITAS Initiative is currently coordinated by CIVITAS MUSE.
The Mobility Management and Behavioural Change Cluster
Influencing and changing attitudes and travel behaviour through “soft” measures
Building infrastructure for sustainable urban mobility is pointless if nobody uses it – that is where mobility management comes in. This concept promotes sustainable mobility and reduces single occupancy car use by challenging and changing travellers’ attitudes and behaviour.
Mobility management focuses on “soft” measures, such as awareness raising and marketing campaigns, mobility info points, and school and company travel plans. Technological advancements are also seeing gamification play a larger role.
Such “soft” measures enhance the effectiveness of “hard” measures, like new tram lines, bike lanes, or charging infrastructure. Compared to “hard” measures, mobility management measures do not necessarily require large financial investments and may have a high cost-benefit ratio in a short time frame.
Mobility Management and Behavioural Change Cluster Projects
CIVITAS Contributes to the EU Mission Climate-Neutral & Smart Cities
