Whether you live in a big or small community, you’ve likely noticed an increase in pedestrian plazas, pop-up bike lanes, and parklets in cities all around the world. Many cities are implementing flexible and short-term projects to forge ahead with long-term goals linked to public space, street safety, and more.
There is a growing movement towards transforming public spaces, like traffic lanes and parking bays into areas that serve the people better. Previously, urban planning was all about prioritizing the space for cars, but now the focus is on improving local neighborhoods and city gathering places.
The fact is, urban infrastructure is unable to support the rapid increase we’re seeing in vehicles on the road. Additionally, there has been a shift towards building cities that are more environmentally friendly, health-conscious, and not so congested.
What role does mobility play?
Mobility is not just about getting from point A to B. It means people being able to travel to work, schools, and entertainment-based locations using transport options that are safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly.
Currently, cars dominate urban areas, consuming tons of space, contributing to noise pollution, and they produce dangerous fumes that have a negative impact on the health of residents, as well as the environment. Additionally, the rapid increase in people owning personal cars has led to exponential levels of traffic congestion in cities.
However, modern mobility is set to revolutionize the way we move around cities. Ride-sharing, car-sharing, autonomous vehicles, and the increase in people using bicycles are all new methods of transport that will hopefully contribute towards building cities that meet modern-day standards and demands.
The fourth industrial revolution
We are nearing the fourth industrial revolution, which will include electric vehicles and connected mobility solutions, such as satellite-based prioritization systems for mass transit. Aside from the transformation of private transport (like moving towards electric vehicles), it’s also about transforming public transport systems into something that provides a solution, rather than simply “delivering transport.”
The key to this is developing integrated public and private transportation. Connected systems are able to support improved transport solutions through offering more choice, better coordination, improved safety, and enhanced efficiency. Ultimately, this will allow people and freight to move more freely across cities.
We are slowly starting to see mobility become a lot more connected, asset-light, and integrated. By developing better transport networks in cities around the world, the idea is that the quality of life for residents will improve drastically.
Comments