The European Commission’s Expert Group on Urban Mobility (EGUM) has adopted recommendations on complementing public transport with shared mobility, and on using the Social Climate Fund to support public transport. The recommendations address the European Commission, Member States, regional and local authorities.

The number of journeys from suburban and rural areas to metropolitan centres continues to rise due to demographic changes and urban sprawl. EGUM finds that shared mobility has the potential for everyday journeys. But first, it must be combined with public transport to offer a credible and effective alternative to the private car. The expert group’s recommendations cover infrastructure, safety and the redistribution of public spaces, the digital integration of transport data and multimodality, among other topics.

The Social Climate Fund (SCF) was created to enable Member States to support groups affected by the green transition, including those at risk of transport poverty. EGUM points to examples of measures and initiatives in place around the EU and beyond, focused on public transport and shared mobility services, that other countries, regions and cities may wish to implement. They range from concessionary fares and bike loan schemes to subsidies in exchange for car scrapping and extended bus routes.

The reformed EGUM is a platform for dialogue and the co-creation of actions to implement the new EU urban mobility framework. The next recommendations, available in the coming months, will cover funding and financing, and long-term sustainability. Others will follow, on topics such as: urban vehicle access regulations; sustainable urban mobility planning, monitoring and implementation; urban logistics; active mobility and safety for vulnerable road users; and the future of urban mobility and inclusive and sustainable urban space.

Source: European Commission