Access in Motion

Project Summary

Across European urban and functional areas, mobility systems are becoming more advanced, better integrated and increasingly aligned with climate goals. However, a fundamental gap remains: there is still a disconnect between mobility planning and lived experience, as many people do not use these systems in their daily lives.

At the same time, cities are moving from planning towards implementation. While strategic frameworks such as SUMPs, IAPs, Sustainable Urban Development (SUD) strategies and Urban Accessibility Plans (UAPs) are increasingly in place, there is a clear need to translate them into tangible, user-centred actions.

This project responds directly to this gap.

Overall objective

To support cities in removing everyday barriers in mobility systems by testing, implementing and embedding user-centred solutions in real-life conditions, improving access, safety and usability for all.

Specific objectives

-Identify real-life barriers in mobility systems through direct engagement with diverse user groups

-Test small-scale, high-impact solutions that improve accessibility and safety

-Embed successful solutions into local policies and strategic frameworks (e.g. SUMP, IAP, SUD, UAP, standards)

-Strengthen local capacity to design and implement mobility systems based on real user experience

-Generate implementation learning and transferable solutions that can be scaled and replicated across cities

Each partner will deliver one or a combination of visible, real-life improvements, such as:

• -a redesigned and safer access route to a public transport stop or station, including improved crossings, lighting, continuity of pedestrian paths and removal of physical barriers

• -a reconfigured public transport stop and its surroundings, ensuring safe and comfortable waiting conditions, improved accessibility for people with reduced mobility, and better integration with public space (e.g. seating, greenery, clear access routes)

• -a safer route to school, combining road safety measures, improved crossings, traffic calming and better visibility, with a focus on children’s independent mobility

• -improved accessibility and usability of key mobility nodes, such as stations or interchanges, including clearer navigation, wayfinding and a reduction of cognitive barriers

• -targeted cycling infrastructure improvements, such as secure bike parking or small-scale mobility hubs located in areas identified through user experience

These local interventions will be selected based on real user needs and tested in everyday conditions. They will form the basis for a shared catalogue of tested solutions and good practices, including documentation of the process, implementation steps and lessons learned.

These actions are intended to be small-scale, practical and testable, rather than large infrastructure investments.

Expected outputs

-Tested and documented pilot solutions 

-Local action portfolios aligned with SUMP, SUD, UAP and IAP frameworks

-Practical guidelines for user-centred mobility implementation

-Strengthened capacity of cities to deliver inclusive mobility

By focusing on real users and everyday barriers, the project supports cities in making mobility systems not only sustainable, but also accessible, safe and truly usable. At the same time, it ensures that tested solutions are embedded in local policies, transferable to other contexts, and able to contribute to the long-term implementation of mobility strategies.