Shared mobility key to urban climate action, city leaders say

Cities, transit providers and private sector leaders identify seven action items to spur greater adoption of shared mobility for more sustainable cities.

The Shared Use Mobility Center released the full text of its Shared Mobility 2030 Action Agenda on Wednesday, calling for faster adoption of public transportation, car-sharing, shared micromobility and on-demand microtransit. More than 100 public, private and nonprofit organizations have joined its action network.

The initiative comes as some 200 countries plan to meet Nov. 6-18 for COP27, an international climate summit. Benjamin de la Peña, CEO of the Shared-Use Mobility Center, said in a press release that “global climate leaders continue to underestimate, underfund and undervalue shared mobility, which has the greatest potential to provide cleaner, more accessible, more equitable transportation options to more people than any other single clean transportation solution.”

According to SUMC, local governments are “largely driving” the shared mobility agenda. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, a member of the action network, said in a press release that the agenda “can help us to act and to hold ourselves and others accountable to making our communities healthier and more liveable for everyone, especially those who can least afford to own a car.”

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, also an action network member, said in a press release that “People are struggling to keep up with gas price spikes and the rising cost of living. It’s our responsibility to find real solutions. We see investing in shared mobility as a means to create a healthier, more prosperous community.”