As every year for the past 5 years, the University of Berkeley and the consulting firm Oliver Wyman, have carried out a detailed report on the cities best prepared for future urban mobility around the world. In addition, the index introduces tailored recommendations to improve public transport and sustainable mobility in each city. The purpose of this annual report is to become a practical tool for business and municipal leaders. These recommendations include four key trends that have been identified that will define urban mobility in the near future:
- Economic pressures that, in an inflationary context, make it essential to maintain affordable prices for urban transport.
- Increased investment in sustainable mobility with more consumers of electric vehicles, cycling and car-free zones.
- Supply Chain Risks Manufacturers have strengthened supply chains against geopolitical events via multi‑sourcing and localization.
- Convenient Mass Transit and public transport eficiency.
The Index captures what business, consumers, and policymakers consider indispensable for urban mobility. Succeeding in five dimensions is critical for a winning mobility ecosystem:
- Social Impact
- Infraestructure
- Market Atractiveness
- System Eficiency
- Innovation
A view of Helsinki (Finland) Image: Tapio Haaja/Unsplash
Cities that offer affordable and efficient mobility with simple essentials — like cycling lanes or efficient trains — can buffer against risks like record‑breaking heatwaves or high living costs that threaten how and why people travel. Many cities are trying to address these problems. Some are investing heavily in public transit and cycling infrastructure, while others are experimenting with new pricing strategies to lower fares or are making electric vehicle (EV) purchases more affordable and convenient, according to the 2023 edition of the Urban Mobility Readiness Index, a forward‑looking ranking of how well‑positioned cities are to lead mobility’s next chapter.
No city better demonstrates how important these factors are than Helsinki, which claims this year’s top overall ranking. The Finnish capital boasts car‑free zones, large investments in EV charging infrastructure, advanced cycling infrastructure, and an expanding public transit network with new light rail and tram projects. Increasing public transit offerings is just one way Helsinki’s attempting to boost ridership: It also makes it affordable with a roughly $3 ticket that allows commuters to ride on any mode of transport.
European cities earned the highest scores in the Urban Mobility Readiness Index, claiming most of the top 10 spots in the overall ranking and the Public Transit and Sustainable Mobility sub‑indices. Their success is owed to high levels of public transit usage and electric vehicle (EV) market shares, as exemplified by Nordic cities like Helsinki, Stockholm, Oslo, and Copenhagen. Oslo, with its moniker as the “EV capital of the world,” benefits from a national government bent on zero‑emission vehicles accounting for all new car registrations in 2025. And even with dense EV penetration, these cities continue to incentivize residents to shift from combustion engine cars. Amsterdam, for example, aims to have one charging station for every four EVs. Their public transit networks are efficient and multimodal with national connections, allowing for seamless commuter journeys even with first‑ and last‑mile gaps. Typically, with integrated apps that make planning and payment convenient, European public transit networks are an attractive car alternative for many. European cities can make their public transit networks even stronger by upgrading existing subway systems and implementing autonomous technology.
Top Cities Ranking Evolution
Top Cities Ranking EvolutionHelsinki claims the top ranking in the 2023 Urban Mobility Readiness Index thanks to strong government commitment to building sustainable transport. Car‑free zones, an advanced cycling infrastructure, and a modern national railroad network enable residents to use modes other than personal gasoline‑powered cars and give Helsinki a top 10 finish in the sustainable mobility and public transit sub‑indices. The city’s goal of electric cars accounting for 30% of all vehicles by 2030 is supported by its hefty investments in charging infrastructure. Finland allocated roughly $14 million in funding that will in part support EV charging points, and Helsinki added 200 charging points this year to make access easier.
Even cities that rank in the bottom half of the Index can make leaps forward in modernizing their mobility systems with continual investment in the mobility essentials. Take Jeddah and Bangkok, which climbed the rankings the last two years thanks to determined efforts to boost public transit ridership with affordable fares and convenient service. Consider also Mumbai, a top performer in road safety, or Casablanca, which has the highest pedestrian modal share in theIndex. These cities display a spirit of consistent effort and investment in improving their mobility networks — and are climbing up the Urban Mobility Readiness Index rankings in the process. Those that slipped in our Index, like Singapore, Zurich, Boston, and Los Angeles, have been outpaced by other cities that are accelerating efforts to modernize their mobility networks. These cities should continue to find ways to innovate and make real progress across a range of Index metrics, from EV market share and public transit use to road safety and engagement of the private sector.
Hong Kong Remains a Model for Public Transit Authorities Some cities that already offer a gold standard of mobility services can continue to double down on their strengths with continued investment. Consider Hong Kong, which for the second year in a row, tops our Public Transit Sub‑Index thanks to its efficiency, affordability, and accessibility. Those ingredients have enabled the city’s public transit system to account for a staggering 71% of all distance traveled within Hong Kong. And city authorities continue to bolster the transit system even further — in 2023 it began work on a new station that would help connect the eastern and western parts of the New Territories — a major region of Hong Kong.
In the case of Spanish capital, Madrid, it’s in the middle of European cities list and needs to improve on several points. With many of Madrid’s residents opting to use private cars, residents own on average about twice as many vehicles as residents in its peer city Helsinki. Madrid can discourage car usage by introducing car‑free zones to heavy foot‑traffic areas and by limiting car parking. Madrid would need to offer alternative mobility options by promoting public transit, active mobility, and shared mobility such as car‑sharing or ride‑hailing. The city can improve its active mobility infrastructure by building bike lanes, supporting bike sharing initiatives, and increasing accessibility and safety for pedestrians and cyclists. Madrid’s 2022 implementation of pedestrian‑only zones shows solid progress, but further efforts will help.
Helsinki and Madrid compared in the Urban Mobility Readiness Index
Helsinki and Madrid compared in the Urban Mobility Readiness IndexThe report’s analysis of Barcelona is very similar to that of Madrid. Public transit riders in Barcelona often struggle with long commutes due to low transit speeds. To help close the gap with other cities, it can build dedicated bus lanes to help avoid congestion. Bus lanes and permitting buses in car‑free zones, as applicable, is an efficient and effective way to shorten travel times for commuters. By 2025, Barcelona aims to complete work on new traffic light rules, bus lanes, and routes to achieve a 10% speed increase on main bus lines.In addition, expanding Barcelona’s already impressive number of automated metro lines (currently three out of their 12 lines are automated) will help to expedite travel.
A view of Port Vell, Barcelona.
A view of Port Vell, Barcelona.Links:
https://www.oliverwymanforum.com/mobility/urban-mobility-readiness-index.html
https://www.oliverwyman.es/content/dam/oliver-wyman/ow-forum/template-scripts/urban-mobility-index-2023/PDF/Mobility-Index-Report.pdf
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2024/01/city-urban-transportation-helsinki/#:~:text=Helsinki%20has%20topped%20rankings%20as,to%20be%20electric%20by%202030.
https://www.computerweekly.com/feature/Helsinki-The-trailblazing-smart-city