ITF recommends safer and more sustainable urban mobility
On 7 May 2026, in Leipzig, the Council of Transport Ministers of the International Transport Forum (ITF) adopted a new policy recommendation on the development of urban transport. The document advocates for more efficient, inclusive, safe and environmentally sustainable mobility systems, with a particular focus on the role of micromobility in cities.
The recommendation emphasises that electric scooters, electric bicycles and other light modes can help improve urban travel, particularly for short-distance journeys and ‘first and last mile’ connections to public transport. However, the ITF stresses that the expansion of these modes must be accompanied by public policies that ensure their safe use and their integration into existing mobility systems.
Among the proposed guidelines, the ITF calls for the promotion of safe micromobility within the framework of people-centred mobility. This entails clear rules, adequate infrastructure, better management of public space, protection of the most vulnerable users, and coordination with public transport, walking and conventional cycling.
The document also recommends that authorities monitor the impacts of new mobility services on congestion, emissions, public transport use and active mobility. Digitalisation is presented as an opportunity to improve traffic management, real-time passenger information and integrated ticketing, provided that the risks associated with digital security are properly considered.
For the ITF, the development of urban transport is essential to improving citizens’ quality of life, in a context where urban populations continue to grow. The recommendation, although non-binding, represents a political commitment by member countries and is expected to guide public policy in the coming years.
