11 Sustainable Mobility Trends to consider in 2022
Sustainable mobility must take a step forward in 2022. We believe these are the trends for this year.
What can we expect from sustainable mobility in 2022? Probably less than the progress we’d like to see, but at the same time a lot more than we might have imagined a few years ago. Little by little we see that the streets of cities and towns change their behavior in the way of moving, and from Mobility by Cycling Friendly we believe that it is a movement that won’t stop. In this post, we want to open the year with the different trends that will contribute to sustainable mobility in the future.
Index
- Development of more Corporate Mobility Plans and Bicycle Master Plans
- Extension of bike lane sections
- Local development of the State Bicycle Strategy and the connected mobility strategy (MITMA).
- Greater demand for bicycle and scooter parking
- Investment of regional funds for sustainable mobility projects
- Growth in the use of bicycles and electric scooters
- Emergence of innovative projects on sustainable mobility
- Regulation and control of scooters and bicycles
- Improving interconnectivity in sustainable transport
- Recovery of public car space
- Evolution of urban logistics transport
1. Developing more Corporate Mobility Plans and Bicycle Master Plans
The mobility awareness of its citizens in companies and public institutions has grown noticeably. More and more companies are aware of the value of facilitating and encouraging forms of sustainable mobility. Caring for people has been shown to facilitate significant improvements in the working environment, and the way people access the workplace is one of the key factors influencing employee well-being.
The beginning of new mobility starts with a good strategy thanks to these binding documents.
2. Extension of cycle lane sections
In recent years we have witnessed an increase in the number of kilometres of cycle lanes in cities. This development of urban connectivity through cycle paths should continue to develop to strengthen a network allowing citizens to travel safely by bicycle or scooter. In addition, the slower speed of road traffic will contribute to a gradual shift of bicycles and scooters to the shoulders.
Let’s apply the example of cities like Valencia, and our cities will be full of bicycles, with more safe and connected bike lanes.
3. Development of the State Bicycle Strategy and the Safe, Sustainable and Connected Mobility Strategy 2030.
Last year MITMA published its State Bicycle Strategy which, together with the Safe, Sustainable and Connected Mobility Strategy 2030, should guide communities and municipalities in the development of cycling mobility. It is to be expected that new initiatives for the development of cycling mobility in the different localities will emerge from the lines outlined above.
4. Greater demand for bicycle and scooter parking facilities
In addition to the increase in mobility, both by bicycle and electric scooter, there is also a need to expand the parking network. This applies both to public bicycle services and to the use of own bicycles and scooters, which will require secure storage spaces from both institutional and business perspectives.
Similarly, residential buildings will be obliged from 2027 to provide between 1.5 and 2 parking spaces for each single-person home, so it is expected that many new constructions will already start thinking about adapting to the requirements that will be requested in a future.
5. Investment in European funds for sustainable mobility projects
The promotion of sustainable mobility must be accompanied by public investment. Good words about promoting mobility are nothing without financial funds to promote it. In this sense, the subsidy lines for the purchase of bicycles are one of the lines expected to be continued in the coming years, as well as other types of aid to companies that wish to encourage the use of sustainable transport among their employees. Nor should we forget the call in 2021 for the Municipal Aid Program for the implementation of low-emission zones, to which 1,000 million euros will be earmarked.
6. Growth in the use of bicycles and electric scooters
The electric scooter is far from having reached the crest of the wave. More and more users are opting for their use in our cities, due to the comfort they provide and the ease with which they can move effortlessly from one place to another within the cities. Although we have argued on other occasions that the best, healthiest and most sustainable way of getting around the city is by bicycle, it is foreseeable that scooters will have an increasingly equal share with bicycles. It is also worth mentioning that the bicycle boom, that emerged as a result of the pandemic, is here to stay, which is very good news for mobility.
7. Emergence of innovative projects on sustainable mobility
Increased investment by public institutions in sustainable solutions opens up an important field for innovative companies to offer new ways of understanding mobility within our community. This translates, for example, into new bicycle rack designs or scooter and bicycle rental solutions for companies.
8. Regulation and control of the transport of scooters and bicycles
As bicycles and scooters invade cities, there is an increasing need for lively road regulation, always accompanied by better control and proper dissemination of road rules to citizens. It is therefore to be expected that transport monitoring by these means will get greater surveillance to ensure that the required road safety standards are met.
9. Improving interconnectivity in sustainable transport
The triad of walking – cycling – public transport is the basis on which many municipalities are basing their urban transport policies.. This focus on transport development will lead to the facilitation of connectivity between different modes of transport, so that a person can comfortably combine walking, cycling and scooting with the use of public transport on the same day.
10. Recovery of public car space
Barcelona’s Superilles have become one of the reference models for many cities, not only in Spain but throughout Europe. The idea of reconverting spaces and making them playable is the best way to send an important message: the car must become less important in cities. In addition, it also shows that there are ways to generate pedestrian space without the need for large infrastructure investments.
As Jahn Gehl would say: “a living city is always under construction”, and the future of mobility lies in continuing to build.
11. Evolution of urban logistics transport.
The use of Cargo Bikes for transportwithin the city is one of the new modes of cargo transport that is being implemented within cities. The comfort they provide when moving in urban environments, even through small parcel loads, helps mitigating the environmental impact of freight transport. It is expected that such packages using the formula
There is one last trend that is more than essential: a culture change must take place so that all the above-mentioned trends give a greater impulse. Each of us can do our bit by taking individual responsibility for the planet.
Interested in learning about new ways to move towards a more sustainable future? Contact us and we will introduce you to some of our different mobility solutions.
