Political Group Meeting in Karlsruhe: Pioneering solutions for sustainable mobility
On 28 and 29 November 2024, Karlsruhe hosted the POLIS Political Group meeting, an essential gathering of political leaders from across Europe. Held in the city renowned for its TramTrain model and multimodal mobility innovations, the event, hosted by Frank Mentrup, Lord Mayor of Karlsruhe, brought together elected representatives to share best practices and tackle pressing urban mobility challenges.
The agenda included discussions on EU policies, integrating public transport systems, improving policy communication, and addressing funding gaps for climate-friendly mobility infrastructure. Speakers ranged from local and regional leaders, including those from Karlsruhe and Baden-Württemberg, to representatives of major cities such as Rome and Stockholm, providing diverse perspectives on advancing sustainable urban development. The two-day event underscored the importance of political leadership in driving mobility transformation while fostering collaboration across borders.
Frank Mentrup, Lord Mayor of Karlsruhe - Credit: Credit: Fotobehrendt, Andreas Kurz
Digitalisation in transport: Opportunities and challenges
The first day opened with a session led by DG MOVE, highlighting the transformative potential of digitalisation in transport. The Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) Directive, a decade-old EU framework, was showcased as a cornerstone of efforts to harmonise digital tools and ensure easy access to traffic data.
Key updates to the directive include:
- Mandatory data collection and publication, requiring public authorities to collect and publish essential transport data (e.g., speed limits, low-emission zones).
- Broader scope, encompassing more urban areas to enhance data availability and interoperability.
- Mandatory use of data by service providers, enabling digitalisation of traffic circulation plans and other essential information for navigation and traffic management systems.
As the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) grows, its applications—such as self-driving vehicles and digital wallets—are expected to address challenges like driver shortages and improve accessibility in rural areas. However, concerns around data ownership, governance, and cybersecurity remain. To address these, the Data Act and AI Act establish guidelines for responsible data management and risk-based AI applications, though their implementation must keep pace with technological advances.
In the Q&A session, participants discussed the challenges of balancing public-private data dynamics, harmonising urban mobility data, and addressing the fast-evolving nature of AI. The session underscored the need for clearer frameworks to ensure consistency and usability across regions while safeguarding public interests.
Innovations in Karlsruhe: Making it happen
A session focused on Karlsruhe highlighted the city’s pioneering efforts in public transport and urban planning. Alexander Pischon, Director General of Karlsruher Verkehrsverbund (KVV), presented the city’s achievements, including:
- The Deutschlandticket, a flat-rate national transport ticket, which has significantly increased public transport use.
- The Karlsruhe Model, a tram-train system connecting the city centre with surrounding areas via seamless, transfer-free integration of urban and regional rail networks.
- The Regiomove platform, which consolidates bike-sharing, car-sharing, e-scooters, and public transport into a single app, used by over two million residents monthly.
Karlsruhe’s commitment to SDG 11, promoting inclusive and sustainable urbanisation, was showcased by Anke Karmann-Woessner, who highlighted efforts to enhance public spaces, integrate greenery, and establish living labs to test innovative mobility solutions. However, speakers emphasised the critical need for sustainable funding to maintain and expand these services amid rising operational costs.
Rome’s mobility transformation
Eugenio Patanè, Deputy Mayor of Roma Capitale - Credit: Credit: Fotobehrendt, Andreas Kurz
Eugenio Patanè, Deputy Mayor of Roma Capitale, presented Rome’s ambitious efforts to reduce car dependency and shift toward multimodal transport under its Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP). The city’s strategy includes implementing Urban Vehicle Access Regulations (UVAR), enhancing public transport infrastructure, and adopting Mobility as a Service (MaaS) to integrate various transport modes seamlessly.
Rome’s unique challenges, stemming from its historical and cultural significance, complicate large infrastructure projects. However, the city is advancing initiatives such as new archaeological metro stations, smart bus shelters, and multimodal hubs. Zoning measures like congestion charges and low-emission zones further support sustainable mobility.
Rome also faces additional pressures as a capital city, preparing to host 50 million visitors during the Jubilee in 2025. This discussion linked to the POLIS Capitals Working Group, which focuses on the distinct challenges of major cities, including air quality targets, large-scale events, and TEN-T regulations.
Effective mobility policy communication
The final session of Day 1, led by Pedro Homem de Gouveia, highlighted the complexity of communicating mobility policy effectively. Communication, Pedro stressed, is not a one-off event but a continuous process of dialogue and adaptation. Drawing on cognitive science, he explained how emotion, rather than reason alone, drives public perception and decision-making.
Key takeaways included:
- The need to address cognitive biases like loss aversion and confirmation bias when communicating mobility policies.
- The power of framing and metaphors, such as comparing car pollution to tracking mud into a living room, to make technical concepts relatable.
- The importance of using storytelling to engage audiences, with a narrative structure that resonates emotionally.
Homem de Gouveia concluded with a call for ethical communication that balances transparency with persuasion, building trust and momentum for sustainable mobility policies.
Lessons from Baden-Württemberg: Transforming organisations
Day 2 began with a session by Elke Zimmer, State Secretary of Baden-Württemberg, who outlined the state’s approach to achieving ambitious climate and mobility goals by 2030. These targets include reducing emissions by 55%, doubling public transport use, and ensuring half of all trips are made by walking or cycling.
Key strategies included:
Eugenia Kolb, Policy Advisor, Ministry of Transport Baden-Württemberg - Credit: Fotobehrendt, Andreas Kurz
- Empowering local authorities through 50% co-funding for staffing costs and the creation of mobility and cycling infrastructure roles.
- Strategic concepts, such as SUMPs with explicit climate targets and streamlined plans for smaller cities.
- Systematic funding, with €320 million annually allocated to projects like electric parking garages and zero-emission zones.
The session emphasised the importance of human resources, long-term funding, and strategic communication in driving organisational transformation and delivering sustainable mobility.
Site visit: Karlsruhe’s TramTrain in action
Participants experienced Karlsruhe’s iconic TramTrain model, a revolutionary transport system that seamlessly connects urban tram networks with regional rail systems. This dual-mode approach eliminates the need for passenger transfers, enhancing accessibility and convenience. The model, enhanced with underground sections in 2022, demonstrates the potential of integrated transport solutions to reduce car dependency and improve connectivity.
Collaboration for a sustainable future
The Karlsruhe meeting reinforced the critical role of political leadership and collaboration in addressing urban mobility challenges. Karen Vancluysen, POLIS Secretary General, summarised the event: “The exchange of ideas and experiences among city leaders is essential in overcoming shared challenges and delivering innovative, sustainable mobility solutions.”
The discussions and site visits underscored the importance of integrated approaches to funding, digitalisation, and organisational transformation in building future-ready transport systems. The POLIS Political Group meeting remains a vital platform for driving progress in sustainable urban mobility across Europe.
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