Sustainable transportation should be promoted.


Minimise the need to travel

Regions should be designed to minimise the need for travelling of both people and goods. The size and dimensions of the physical infrastructure must be minimised and optimised. In terms of developing mobility plans for regions, public authorities, schools and bigger companies can be encouraged to find out the needs of citizens and clients and make sustainable transport choices more attractive. Also, mobility concepts involving companies and commuters should be promoted. 

Maximise the solutions encouraging the use of non-motorised traffic

Solutions that encourage walking, biking, and public transport usage are favourable. Bicycle and walking paths should create a network that covers the area’s key services and encourages walking and cycling to everyday destinations like workplaces, schools, services and shops. Parking space management and enabling car free zones should be promoted. Additionally, vehicles with low CO2 emissions, e.g. electric cars or biogas cars, can be encouraged using “carrots” such as special parking privileges in urban areas.

Special attention should be paid to the parking of the bicycles; the space for this should be reserved when planning the area – especially near the services. Thematic plans for non-motorised traffic/cycle and pedestrian paths are good planning tools. Pedestrian areas and high quality public spaces increase the attractiveness of the city centre and promote the liveliness of business in the area. 

Maximise the use of public transport

Public transport connections, routes and timetables should be easily available on the Internet. Sustainable and integrated urban transport plans for public transport in the area/region will help when linking together different forms of traffic. Bus and rail services should connect to ensure a smooth transition from one vehicle to another. Analysis of the weakest links in the railroad and road network can help in planning. All these will also serve the tourist.

See also other categories for climate change mitigation and adaptation in planning:

» Local climate and the future climate scenarios
» Compact and diverse urban structure
» Energy efficiency
» Comfortable and healthy environment
» Public participation and stakeholder involvement
» Strategic planning
» Costs