Not travelling less – travelling smart! 

Sustainable mobility does not necessarily mean travelling less: it’s more about being travel-smart. This means mobility which is energy-efficient, clean and capable of providing hassle-free travel for daily needs (work, leisure, social life and so on). The concept provides leverage for increased sustainable development in environmental, economic and societal terms.

Reasons for travelling smart 

Caring for the environment

Transport accounts for 26% of greenhouse gas emissions, which are themselves the main cause of global warming. Since 1990, overall growth in traffic has resulted in a 23% increase in these emissions. Furthermore, fossil fuels are not inexhaustible.  All this means that we need to change our habits and our travel behaviours: travelling alone in a car only when really necessary, avoiding pointless journeys, combining multiple modes of transport, and so on. 

Travelling more cheaply

The average annual cost of using a car on a daily basis is €6000 - 20 times more than the annual cost of using public transport. Consequently, using public transport also results in fewer travel-related expenses.

Greater social cohesion 

Mobility needs are increasing. Improving services to certain neighbourhoods makes cities more accessible and helps bridge mobility divides, which occur where some places are cut off and certain types of people (such as the elderly and the disabled) find themselves isolated. Remedying this is also part of the mission of sustainable mobility.

Sources: Ministry for Sustainable Development and ADEME