Over the past years, nine European cities have worked together to rethink mobility from the perspective of everyday life, equity and access. Rather than focusing on large infrastructures or purely technical solutions, S.M.ALL placed people, neighbourhoods and daily routines at the heart of mobility planning.
Reconnecting mobility with everyday urban life
One of the key lessons of S.M.ALL is that mobility inequalities often emerge at local level. Sidewalks that are technically compliant but unusable, crossings that feel unsafe, services that are simply too far away — these barriers rarely appear in strategic plans, yet they shape daily experiences for many residents.
By working at the neighbourhood scale, partner cities were able to observe how mobility systems affect real life, especially for children, older people, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. This shift in scale helped cities move beyond abstract indicators and reconnect mobility policies with public space, health, safety and social interaction.
S.M.ALL showed that streets are not only spaces of movement, but places where urban life unfolds. When mobility is designed around people’s needs, it can become a driver of inclusion, wellbeing and cohesion.
From planning to testing: learning by doing
Another defining feature of the network was its emphasis on testing actions. Instead of waiting for long-term investments, cities experimented with small, targeted and often low-cost interventions in real urban contexts. These actions were conceived as learning tools rather than final solutions.
Testing made it possible to observe how people actually use spaces, collect feedback and adjust interventions accordingly. In many cases, modest changes - such as safer school streets, improved crossings, or accessible routes - have produced visible improvements in safety, comfort, and confidence.
This approach strengthened local Action Plans, grounding them in real experience rather than assumptions. It also helped cities reduce risks, build institutional confidence and support more realistic and credible long-term decisions.
Working differently: participation and governance
S.M.ALL also highlighted that inclusive mobility is as much a governance challenge as a technical one. Mobility barriers are rarely the responsibility of a single department. They sit at the intersection of transport, social services, education, health and urban planning.
Through local working groups and co-design processes, partner cities tested new ways of working across sectors and with local communities. Involving residents and end users from the beginning improved both the quality and legitimacy of solutions, building trust and shared responsibility.
At transnational level, exchanges between cities of different sizes and contexts reinforced a key message: there is no one-size-fits-all solution, but there is a shared approach that can be adapted locally.
A shared legacy for European cities
As the network comes to a close, S.M.ALL leaves behind more than Action Plans and pilot projects. It leaves a set of practical lessons, tools and working methods that other cities can reuse and adapt:
- start from everyday experience and local knowledge;
- put vulnerable users at the centre of mobility planning;
- test before scaling up;
- use participation as a continuous process, not a one-off consultation;
- connect mobility with broader urban goals and policies.
Most importantly, S.M.ALL reinforces a shared understanding: inclusive mobility is a choice and a long-term commitment. When mobility works for those who face the greatest barriers, it works better for everyone.
Explore the full story
To dive deeper into the network’s findings and methodologies, we invite you to explore the final booklet, which synthesises S.M.ALL’s experiences and practical guidance, as well as the final project article - both rich sources of inspiration for cities on the path to inclusive mobility.
To complete the picture, don’t miss the final project video, where partners reflect on their journey, share key moments from local actions and highlight what sustainable, inclusive mobility means in practice. Together, these resources offer a comprehensive view of how cities can put people back at the centre of mobility planning, and take away concrete ideas for replication.
