Urban mobility – the pathway to the future

The United Nations has designated the first Monday of October every year as World Habitat Day. This year, it will be celebrated next Monday, 7 October 2013.

The purpose of World Habitat Day is to reflect on the state of our towns and cities and the basic right of all to adequate shelter. It is also intended to remind the world that we all have responsibility to shape the future of our cities and towns.

For 2013, the United Nations chose the theme Urban Mobility because mobility and access to goods and services are essential to the efficient functioning of our cities and towns as they expand.

‘Accessible’ cities encourage a shift towards more sustainable modes of transportation and draw more and more travellers out of cars and onto trains, buses, bike paths, and sidewalks, according to the UN.

But mobility is about more than just the mode of transport we use.

World Habitat Day organisers suggest that urban planning and design should focus on how to bring people and places together by creating cities that focus on accessibility and optimal urban densities, rather than simply increasing the length of urban transport infrastructure.