Urban mobility is at a critical juncture as cities worldwide grapple with challenges related to sustainability, inclusivity, and efficiency. To address these challenges, the Urban Mobility Scorecard (UMS) Tool has been developed as a digital assessment and benchmarking tool for cities. It is designed to help city administrations understand their current strengths and weaknesses, acknowledge key achievements, and identify areas for improvement in urban mobility.
Aims and Scope of the Urban Mobility Scorecard Tool
The UMS Tool aims to assist cities in their journey towards sustainable and inclusive urban mobility. By providing a qualitative, questionnaire-based assessment, the tool enables cities to evaluate the underlying policies, strategies, and systems that support urban mobility. Unlike traditional ranking systems, the UMS Tool is designed to benchmark progress, explore solutions, and aid decision-making.
Key Objectives
- Benchmark Progress: Cities can compare their results anonymously to understand their standing relative to other cities.
- Identify Action Areas: The tool helps cities identify specific areas where policy, regulation, or public-private collaboration can drive improvements.
- Showcase Best Practices: By highlighting innovative approaches from around the world, the tool promotes awareness and encourages action from both public and private sectors.
Features of the UMS Tool
The UMS Tool offers several features to support cities in achieving sustainable urban mobility:
- Mobility Assessments: Seven questionnaire-based assessments evaluate cities’ progress on various aspects of sustainable and inclusive mobility.
- Benchmarking: Cities can anonymously compare their results to benchmark progress against others.
- Action Setting: Based on the assessment results, cities can take steps to advance urban mobility in different areas.
- Supporting Resources: Compiled resources, case studies, and best practices provide inspiration and guidance for future actions.
Collaborative Development
Developed in consultation with the private sector and civil society, the UMS Tool bridges the gap between city administrations and the lived experiences of mobility stakeholders. The development process included design-thinking workshops, interviews with Working Group members, and an in-depth review of over 20 sustainable urban mobility frameworks and indices. This collaborative effort ensured the tool is grounded in real-world challenges and solutions.
Structure of the UMS Tool
The UMS Tool is structured around three pillars: Governance, Resilience, and Connectivity. Each pillar encompasses specific themes that are crucial for sustainable urban mobility.
Pillar 1: Governance
The Governance pillar focuses on the systems supporting urban mobility. It aims to explore how governance changes can create adaptable, future-ready urban mobility ecosystems. Key themes include:
- Institutional Coordination: Addressing master planning, investment, budget, and internal capacity.
- Regulation: Covering urban vehicle access, data access, and sharing.
- Innovation: Enabling shared mobility, pilot projects, tenders, electrification, and charging infrastructure.
Pillar 2: Resilience
The Resilience pillar tackles operational priorities, envisioning mobility infrastructure that prioritizes sustainable transport modes. Key themes include:
- Space Allocation: Focusing on cycling, micromobility, walkability, and public/shared transport.
- Kerbside Management: Addressing parking, loading, and freight management.
Pillar 3: Connectivity
The Connectivity pillar emphasizes accessible, inclusive, and equitable urban transport. It aims to create well-connected cities with multiple transport options. Key themes include:
- Integration: Multimodal integration, mobility payments, ticketing, and informal transport.
- Equitable Access: Ensuring accessibility, road-user safety, and broad access to mobility.
The Urban Mobility Scorecard Tool represents a significant step forward in helping cities achieve sustainable and inclusive urban mobility. By providing a comprehensive assessment framework, benchmarking capabilities, and actionable insights, the tool empowers cities to make informed decisions and implement effective mobility solutions. Through collaboration and best practice sharing, the UMS Tool fosters a global community of cities committed to advancing urban mobility for all.