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Insights from the Central European Active Mobility Lab

2025-01-18

Mobilissimus is proud to release the "Lessons Learnt Report" from the Central European Active Mobility Lab (CEAML), a transformative project aimed at promoting sustainable urban mobility across the Visegrad region. Funded by the European Climate Foundation, this project addressed key challenges in decarbonising transport systems and enhancing liveability in cities in Hungary, Czechia, and Slovakia.

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ceaml
(source: osm) 

Innovative Measures in Sustainable Mobility

The CEAML project implemented and evaluated pilot measures in Budapest, Prague, and Bratislava. These interventions ranged from soft cycle lanes and redesigned streets ot a contruction of dedicated pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure like Prague's Štavnice footbridge. The focus was on achieving measurable impacts such as safer streets, increased active mobility, and more attractive public spaces, while also fostering a deeper understanding of the social and technical dynamics involved in urban transformation.

(source: Google maps) 

Key Findings and Lessons Learnt

The report highlights several key takeaways:

  • Effective Interventions: Small-scale, cost-effective redesigns—such as traffic calming measures in Bratislava—proved successful in reducing vehicle speeds and enhancing perceived safety among pedestrians and cyclists. Based on the before-after measurements conducted in the project, it was observed that: Street redesign with light solutions (road diet, safe cycle lanes and shorter zebra crossings) in Bratislava resulted in higher perceived safety for pedestrians and cyclists according to 83% and respectively 78% of school parents; average and median speeds decreased by 4km/h. These values are reflected in the perception of those using the space:

„Before the changes, I walked my son to school every morning because the traffic was unbearable. After the changes, my son started going to school on his own in the morning.

  • Large-Scale Impact Potential: Investments in infrastructure, like Prague's pedestrian-cyclist bridge, demonstrated how targeted projects can dramatically increase active mobility, with pedestrian trips nearly doubling after the bridge’s opening.

„After the opening of the footbridge, bicycle traffic increased by 47% from around 2000 to 3000 passes per business day. Pedestrian traffic increased even more significantly by 82% from 3200 pedestrians to 5800 pedestrians per business day.”

  • Strategic Implementation: Periods following the election periods, during the early stages of the mandate, are optimal for implementing measures perceived as controversial, as they provide time for impacts to materialise before public scrutiny peaks. Both in Budapest and Bratislava, local elections caused significant delays or turbulence in the projects observed.

(source: PR Praha and Petr Codicka, Wikipédia)

Challenges and Recommendations

The project faced challenges such as delays due to political hesitations and financial constraints. However, the findings emphasise the importance of quality control, inclusive public dialogue, and strong municipal partnerships. These elements are critical for overcoming resistance and ensuring the long-term success of sustainable mobility measures. As the report states:

“Local advocacy groups played a pivotal role in sustaining momentum for urban transformation projects, but long-term success ultimately depended on strong political support.”

Pathway to Replication

One of the core goals of the CEAML project was to ensure that its measures could be replicated across Central European cities. The report offers actionable recommendations for urban planners and policymakers, from embedding micro-interventions in broader city-wide strategies to balancing controversial measures with incentives.

Mobilissimus invites urban mobility professionals, policymakers, and advocates to explore the full report, which provides a comprehensive evaluation of the pilot interventions and offers guidance for future sustainable mobility projects.

Download the Report

Click here to access the full Lessons Learnt Report.

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