Overview
Since 2002, CIVITAS Initiative has been able to attract a raising interest among local authorities in Europe, becoming a true point of reference, even beyond the boundaries of the European Union. This is because worldwide, massive resources are poured into research and development of new solutions for a better urban environment. However, funds often target individual initiatives, which doubtlessly procure knowledge advancements in the fields of application. What sets CIVITAS apart is the integrative nature of the approach it advocates, based on comprehensive and innovative handling of energy and transport policy.
The objectives of competitive, secure, safe, and environmentally friendly mobility must be conjugated and complemented with the involvement of national, regional and local governments, and that of citizens and industry. The partners of CIVITAS MIMOSA see in CIVITAS the ideal instrument to better understand the frameworks, processes and technicalities required to successfully introduce and test innovative, courageous and integrated strategies for clean, energy-efficient and sustainable urban transport. The possibility to do so with a group of peers makes it all the more stimulating and meaningful, as it supplies local authorities with policies that are both validated by widespread experimentation and legitimised by the concurrent adoption in other cities.
The CIVITAS MIMOSA approach is based on a clear set of measures that have been developed by:
- Monitoring traffic flows and analysis of mobility demand and supply;
- Identifying problems and opportunities;
- Planning initiatives that public administrations and citizens can implement to tackle the problems;
- Identify the most suitable demonstration actions for CIVITAS (i.e. a mix of tested good practices and bold, innovative actions), pushing citizens towards the desired behavioural shift;
- Implement the actions and showcase them for replication or inspiration in other urban contexts.
Funding
Results
Whilst all being part of the CIVITAS MIMOSA project, the five cities of Bologna, Funchal, Gdansk, Tallinn and Utrecht are each important in their own right as vital traffic hubs within their regions, with the associated problems to be solved:
- Mimosa cities have adapted and invented solutions to solve their own unique problems.
- Related to the innovation in each city new technological solutions were implemented.
- The differing political environments in each city meant varying degrees of cooperation and support for MIMOSA measures. In certain instances, national policy overruled local policy, leading to delays and difficulties. In some cases, cities had existing traffic or environment policies to which CIVITAS brought added value and motivation.
- One of the main priorities of the CIVITAS MIMOSA project was improvement of infrastructure. The MIMOSA cities adopted an innovative integrated approach involving technology, citizen engagement and partnership in order to improve the infrastructure.
Technical Implications
- The vast amounts of data related to sustainable mobility gave CITIVAS MIMOSA the opportunity to develop the MIMOSA Search Engine. This tool can access databases around the world and provide relevant sustainable transport information in numerous languages.
- MIMOSA cities used advances in intelligent transport systems to solve traffic rule compliance problems. This resulted in improved safety and reductions in accidents.
- Technology played a pivotal role in Tallinn where citizens will switch from using their own identity cards to an integrated smart card ticketing system.
- Utrecht applied technology to keep its citizens informed about accessibility issues via its Utrecht Accessible website.
- Finally, a notable and growing trend throughout the project was the use of social media to engage with citizens. Gdansk and Funchal set up dedicated Facebook pages that gained many followers and fans. Blogs and tweets kept people informed and empowered people to join the conversation on sustainable mobility.
Policy implications
With support from CIVITAS MIMOSA, decision makers, citizens and partners from the five cities took the opportunity to invest money, time and effort in a series of innovative integrated sustainable mobility measures. Given the results arising from these measures the MIMOSA cities are carrying on with their new path, and take their vision of sustainable mobility to the next level. Funchal, Bologna and Utrecht have lobbied members of the European Parliament to make available ERDF funding for infrastructural investment for cities that have demonstrated innovation in the area of sustainable mobility and seek to build on their successes.
Strategy targets
2. Innovating for the future technology and behaviour:
2.2 A European Transport Research and Innovation Policy.
2.3 Integrated urban mobility.