Urban Mobility: What the Future Holds for Cities

Key Findings

Urban challenges

Numerous environmental, economic, technological and social challenges are promoting a rethink of urban mobility. Personal car ownership is no longer feasible as cities become denser and more crowded.

Technological disruptors

A number of technological disruptors – namely, improving battery storage capabilities, artificial intelligence (AI), smartphones and cloud computing – underpin the arrival of alternative urban mobility forms.

Public transportation

Public transportation should form the backbone of a city’s urban transit. It is by far the most cost-effective and efficient way of transporting people, helping to keep congestion and pollution in check. Alternative transportation in the form of sharing schemes should complement an integrated public transportation system.

Electrification

The environmental advantages compounded by a mobility system run on electricity, has fostered significant interest in and uptake of electric vehicles (EVs). China is a key market: it accounted for half the global EV sales in 2017.

Mobility as a Service (MaaS)

The implementation of MaaS has focused on providing various mobility services such as car-sharing schemes, public transport and taxi services as a package, which can be paid for either under a subscription service or per use.

Autonomous vehicles

Fully autonomous vehicles are promising, yet nascent in their technology. Their place in urban mobility is unclear since their usage may result in more cars on the road. However, as feeder systems, they have the potential to increase urban dwellers’ inclusivity, connecting commuters to integrated public transport systems.