Small Cities, Big Impact
Leading the Way Towards Sustainable Urban Mobility
How can small and medium-sized cities become pioneers in sustainable mobility, tackling climate goals, livability, and accessibility? At the European Week of Regions and Cities, POLIS SMCs unveiled bold strategies to reshape urban life, cut car dependency, and drive towards a fairer, more sustainable future for all.
From interviews with Daniel de Klein, Esmée Hof, Niina Ruuska, Paolo Gandolfi, and Runa Monstad, elaborated by Marina Martín Vilches.
Setting the right goals is not just the first step to success; it is perhaps the most critical one, especially for small and medium-sized cities (SMCs). For these cities, mobility goals are increasingly intertwined with broader priorities such as climate action, livability, and accessibility. These priorities form the foundation of strategies aimed at enhancing quality of life, fostering citizen engagement, and reducing car dependency—all while keeping both the planet and citizens at the forefront.
From top to bottom, Mechelen, Stavanger, Turku, Helmond, and Reggio Emilia
defotoberg, Richard M Lee, Robson90,
robert coolen, ppl
Eyes on the prize
Mechelen, Belgium, has established clear priorities focusing on investments in cycling infrastructure, public transport, and shared mobility services to encourage sustainable travel choices. By adhering to the STOP principle (putting pedestrians first, followed by cyclists, public transport, and finally private vehicles), Mechelen maximises space and improves the overall quality of life. Esmée Hof, Project Coordinator at the City of Mechelen, encapsulates this ethos by saying: ‘Everyone is a pedestrian at some point in their journey.’
Further north, Stavanger, Norway, shares a similar vision. The city is striving for climate neutrality by 2030 as part of the Cities Mission. Runa Monstad, Director of the Stavanger Region European Office, states that ‘sustainable urban mobility is vital for our city, with transport accounting for nearly a quarter of Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions and a leading cause of urban air pollution.’ To address this challenge, Stavanger is investing in infrastructure for walking, cycling, and public transport, while reducing reliance on private cars—key initiatives include expanding bike lanes, prioritising electric public transport, and introducing hydrogen ferries and electric boats. This commitment has earned Stavanger the distinction of being Norway’s top cycling city.
Turku, Finland, is developing its first Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) to integrate ongoing and planned mobility investments and processes, placing great emphasis on urban mobility to reach climate targets, and an important service to lead a sustainable life and businesses.
As Niina Ruuska, Senior Specialist at the City of Turku, says: ‘Sustainable urban mobility services provided by the city gives equal opportunities for citizens to move effortlessly and with minimal costs, which is also an advantage for the businesses.’
Meanwhile, Helmond, The Netherlands, is exploring innovative, sustainable options such as connected and automated mobility (CCAM), shared services, and bike-sharing at mobility hubs.
Daniel de Klein, Business Development Manager at the City of Helmond describes how these options are particularly relevant given the high car dependency in the area, especially with limited last-mile public transport alternatives: ‘Striving for sustainable urban mobility is crucial to ensuring our city remains livable and accessible. We believe that innovative and sustainable mobility solutions can offer more convenient and environmentally friendly choices for both residents and visitors in Helmond.’
Bold solutions
SMCs face unique structural and financial challenges. Paolo Gandolfi, Director of Urban Mobility Service at the City of Reggio Emilia, notes that the city's urban layout, shaped by 1960s/1970s car-centric planning, poses significant obstacles to creating pedestrian-friendly spaces. ‘This legacy of prioritising cars requires not only changes in local policies but also supportive national frameworks,’ he explained, ‘which tend to focus more on larger cities.’ Monstad (Stavanger) echoed this sentiment, adding that even Norway (often seen as a leader in mobility policy) has gaps in its support for SMCs. ‘Regional funding is necessary to fully realise our sustainable mobility goals,’ she emphasised.
Despite these challenges, Stavanger and the Rogaland region are leading the charge in sustainable mobility through innovative initiatives—indeed, they introduced the world’s first fully electric high-speed ferry, Medstraum, along with the hydrogen-powered ferry, the MF Hydra. Moreover, in 2022 Stavanger launched Europe’s first autonomous bus to further reduce reliance on private cars—additional initiatives have included testing of automated buses in Gjesdal and implementing the HjemJobbHjem programme, which promotes sustainable commuting.
In Mechelen, Hof elaborates on their approach: ‘We focus on improving infrastructure for sustainable urban mobility rather than introducing new technologies. Given our compact city size, most areas are within walking or cycling distance.’
Key initiatives in the Belgian city include expanding shared mobility options and converting a two-way ring road into a one-way system to create green spaces, improved cycling infrastructure, and safety.
Focus on citizens
Building citizen engagement and support for sustainable mobility is a top priority for these cities. Monstad explains how Stavanger encourages community involvement through strategies like cycling competitions and subsidies for electric and cargo bikes. ‘We offered free public transport for an extended period to promote a shift away from cars,’ she added.
Citizen engagement is also vital for reducing car dependency. In Reggio Emilia, Gandolfi explains how the city collaborates with neighbourhood groups to educate residents on the benefits of cycling and walking. These groups ‘not only provide safety insights but also cultivate a sense of community ownership over sustainable mobility initiatives.’ Primarily funded through EU projects, this approach enables the city to address residents’ concerns while building strong support for its sustainable mobility goals.
In Turku, as explained by Ruuska, citizens are actively engaged in the planning phase not only via questionnaires, as the ‘Mobility Profile test has proved to be a great means for communication and engagement, but plans have also been discussed during Turku Day and district events.’
Hof once again highlighted Mechelen’s proactive approach: ‘At the start of our previous legislative term, we held a kick-off meeting with residents to explore their views on sustainable mobility.’ This meeting laid the groundwork for their Mobility Vision paper and a monthly newsletter on updates. ‘While we aim to engage citizens in shaping mobility policies, achieving the right balance can be challenging,’ she noted.
In Helmond, de Klein emphasised their commitment to inclusive mobility: ‘We ensure that vulnerable community members are not overlooked.’ Through the Move2CCAM workshops, Helmond gathers insights from citizens (including those with disabilities) on effective Cooperative, Connected, and Automated Mobility (CCAM) services.
Collaboration is key
Small and medium-sized cities, often overlooked in national policies, hold immense potential to develop transformative mobility solutions that foster resilient, inclusive, and sustainable urban environments. Their strengths (strong community connections, flexible governance, and a capacity for innovation) stem from their manageable size, enabling them to implement tailored solutions swiftly. As Hof states, ‘Our manageable scale makes it easier to drive sustainable mobility initiatives forward.’ Ruuska adds ‘Smaller size usually means smaller city organisation with less hierarchy and better cross-sectoral communication which are needed in driving new innovations.’
However, these cities face diverse structural and financial challenges, including limited resources, capacity, and budget. The key to unlocking their potential? Effective collaboration.
Monstad explains, ‘The key to unlocking this potential is collaboration through international networks like POLIS, where cities can share best practices, access new technologies, and adapt proven strategies to fit their own needs.’ de Klein adds, ‘Actively pursue collaboration to reach your sustainable mobility goals. Think big but start small, and don’t fear making mistakes along the way. Exchanging knowledge and experiences between small and medium-sized cities is essential (and often inspiring) since these cities frequently share similar characteristics and challenges.’
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About the contributors:
Interviewees:
Daniel de Klein, Business Development Manager - Digital City, City of Helmond. De Klein is the Business Development Manager at the City of Helmond. Since 2009, he has driven innovation, including the development of the Automotive Campus, a hub for automotive technology and smart mobility. Now, he focuses on applying digital technology to tackle integrated urban challenges within the Urban Innovation and Networks department.
Esmée Hof, Project Coordinator, City of Mechelen. Hof is the project coordinator for several European mobility and logistics initiatives for the City of Mechelen. An architect and urban planner, she began coordinating the EU projects UNCHAIN and MoLo Hubs last year, aiming to make urban mobility and logistics more sustainable and efficient.
Niina Ruuska, Senior Specialist, Climate Team, City of Turku. Ruuska is a senior specialist at Turku’s Green Transition Services, coordinating the ‘Nature City Turku’ strategy. Since 2019, she has led the Circular Turku Roadmap and developed carbon-neutral business parks and zero-emission construction sites. Ruuska previously worked for over a decade in climate and biodiversity roles in both public and private sectors.
Paolo Gandolfi, Director of Urban Mobility Service, City of Reggio Emilia. Gandolfi holds a degree in Architecture from the Istituto Universitario di Architettura in Venice. A former professor of Urban Design at the Università di Ferrara, he has worked extensively in urban planning and sustainable mobility. Gandolfi co-authored Italy’s National Cycling Mobility Plan and now advises on sustainable urban spaces and cycling mobility.
Runa Monstad, Director, Stavanger Region European Office. Monstad is Director of the Stavanger Region European office. A lawyer with a Master’s in Law from Oslo and Deusto, she has over 20 years’ experience in Brussels, including at the European Commission and EFTA. Monstad co-leads ERRIN’s Smart Cities group and advocates for sustainable transport and eco-friendly urban mobility.
Interviewer: Marina Martín Vilches
