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Why understanding urban mobility matters in today’s cities.
Mobility choices shape every aspect of city life, from economic opportunity and sustainability to social inclusion and quality of life. The way we move in cities influences how they grow and the resources they use, often in irreversible ways. By understanding urban mobility planning, we can make choices that benefit everyone – not just car users – and create healthier, more accessible and more sustainable cities.
Course overview
This course introduces the fundamentals of urban mobility planning, core concepts and innovative approaches to urban mobility planning. You’ll examine how cities can improve transport systems, support broader mobility access and prepare for future technologies that transform the movement of people and goods in urban areas around the world. Urban life benefits everyone when we invest in mobility for all, not just car users.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Recognise how different transport modes and city types influence mobility dynamics.
- Identify key goals and innovative, integrated solutions that support traffic limitation and emerging mobility technologies.
- Outline policy actions that support leaders in promoting sustainable modes of urban mobility, such as public transport and cycling.
Audience
Whether you’re a student, policymaker, or simply curious about how cities function, this course will provide a strong foundation in the principles and practices of urban mobility.
Multi-language access
To make this course accessible for a greater audience, the videos’ subtitles are available in English, French, Italian, Latvian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Slovak and Turkish.
Some of the audio tracks in this course have been generated using AI technology to provide multilingual access. These tracks are marked as “auto-generated” in the video player. While we strive for clarity and accuracy, please note that the audio may not be perfect.
In addition, the full course content is available in Spanish and Turkish. Please note that while the learning materials have been translated, the platform features, such as menus and navigation buttons, remain in English. To enhance accessibility for all participants, AI audio dubbing in Spanish and Turkish has been made available in the course videos.
Modules
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Total length
About the Course
Instructor
Paul Barter
Dr Paul Barter is a consultant, researcher, trainer, writer and podcaster best known for his parking policy expertise. Paul also has research, policy and training strengths on international comparisons of urban transport, travel demand management and public transport regulation. He has provided insight to various metropolitan governments as a consultant to international organizations such as the World Bank, WRI, ITDP and GIZ. Since 2000, Paul has taught at the National University of Singapore (NUS), mostly in the LKY School of Public Policy as an Assistant Professor and, since 2012, as an Adjunct Associate Professor.
Course syllabus
Over five concise modules, you’ll explore key policy questions and emerging trends:
Module 1: Mobility and urban space Why urban mobility matters: Understand how mobility influences almost every aspect of city life. Explore the stark differences between transport modes, particularly in how much urban space they require.
Module 2: What should urban mobility really try to achieve? Defining the right goals: What should urban mobility really aim to achieve? Learn why it’s critical to move beyond reactive policymaking and instead develop thoughtful, long-term goals that serve broader public interests.
Module 3: Boosting the alternatives to private cars Promoting sustainable transport options: Discover how cities can support space-efficient, low-impact modes such as public transport, walking, cycling, micromobility, and shared mobility services like car- and bike-sharing.
Module 4: Discouraging driving Managing private car use: Enhancing alternatives isn’t enough—successful urban mobility also requires strategies to limit car dependency. This module examines the policies used by leading cities to keep private vehicle use in check.
Module 5: Vision based knowledge Rethinking urban mobility planning: Explore the limitations of traditional mobility planning and the growing shift towards integrated, vision-based approaches—such as Europe’s Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs).
EIT Label
The course has received the EIT Label, which certifies its quality and alignment with the standards of the EIT Urban Mobility Academy.
Free and Paid options
You can access and participate in the course for free. If you want to earn a certificate upon completion, you can purchase it. The certificate will be accessible only once the course is successfully completed. For more details, please see the FAQ page.
Course Content
Ratings and Reviews
Lucie Pacho Aljanati
The course Fundamentals of Urban Mobility is engaging, accessible and well-structured. It explains key concepts like transportation, sustainability, and planning clearly, with real-world examples. Highly recommended for anyone interested in sustainable urban mobility.
Rouda Alderei
This material highlights key strategies for improving urban mobility and preparing for future challenges like autonomous vehicles. It emphasizes the importance of safe pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, smart traffic management, public transport promotion, and careful planning of AV deployment to avoid increasing congestion. Overall, it offers practical and proven solutions to create more sust
It was detailed more than expected. Very interesting