or decades, economists have highlighted urbanization’s two primary benefits as the inherent connectivity that allows idea sharing and the resulting innovation engine that drives prosperity. The ease of forging relationships, whether deep or transactional, triggered more efficient growth in densely populated areas. But technological advancement and biased economic structures have impeded this grand vision and demonstrated that dense population alone cannot produce prosperity. Forethought, principled measurement, planning, and the courage to elevate inclusive policies above quick fixes are the ingredients needed to create equitable paths to access and opportunities for residents of the world’s urban centers. Integrated smart mobility sits at the core of this notion.
If ideas are truly the currency of our economic, social, and cultural advancement, we have to prioritize equitable mobility as a central democratizing element of opportunity for urban and suburban populations. In a time when COVID-19 and social unrest have ignited calls for systemic change across the world, governments and forward-thinking organizations should seek to lay out ambitious plans to reimagine transport solutions.
Access to affordable mobility in urban centers has deteriorated consistently for years. In 2018, the World Bank estimated that more than 50% of the world's population lived in cities. Yet a recent analysis by the World Resources Institute found troubling disparities in access to affordable transportation for the majority of urban populations. For example, in Mexico City—the largest urban center in the western hemisphere—20% of residents (primarily those living on the city periphery) have little to no access to stable employment opportunities within one hour of their home via existing transport systems.
The consequences are simple to understand. Those residing outside of a city’s center can often face pricey, complex commutes that drain precious time from the day and cascade into challenging effects on quality of life, education access, and stable employment. Lengthy commutes for low-wage earners worldwide have become further complicated, if not perilous, during the global pandemic.
The implicit bias toward constructing affordable public transit in the center of cities, where high housing prices displace those with fewer means, drives an imbalance in how the urban experience “seeks to enfranchise” all. These are not trends constrained to Latin America, nor a particular hemisphere. Cities like London and other “north star” urban centers exhibit unfortunate trends of painful commute times and lower access to transport for less wealthy residents.
Equitable mobility at the center of urban opportunity.
Ambitious leaders in business and government can start to address these challenges sooner than many think. In fact, cities like Milan have worked to capitalize on learnings from the COVID-19 crisis to reshape transportation policy in hopes that its 75% reduction in air pollution and other benefits of lower roadway congestion can become lasting markers of the city’s identity.
In September, the World Economic Forum and the City of Los Angeles released “Principles of the Urban Sky,” a first-of-its-kind report that outlines foundational elements of urban air mobility for city leaders, residents, and business communities to consider. Leaders globally would be wise to evaluate such guidance as sustainable measures that can reenergize urban locales through courageous innovation.
Further, prioritization of some key principles for the future can help forge transformation that infuses more equitable transportation solutions into the world’s urban environments.
Cities have to embrace multimodal networks that offer affordable, accessible solutions for all inhabitants. This involves leaning into smart, resilient, and sustainable mobility solutions like never before. Electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircrafts, part of a new form of air mobility, are promising examples of a new pathway to making transport work better for urban and suburban communities.
Additionally, as cities transition back to higher rates of on-site work in the wake of mass “lockdowns,” urban planners and policymakers must better manage demand for non-pooled travel in private automobiles. This will necessitate creative solutions that offer a wider array of accessible transit options, as well as incentivize their use.
In the United States, more than 5,000 small public airports are underutilized. Those secondary and tertiary airports are increasingly important for the future of air travel and accessible mobility. Shifting passenger traffic to smaller, regional airports would help increase demand for multiple services and provide more convenient and affordable options for local residents. Increased use of smaller airports throughout the world represents a viable solution that should be on the table.
Getting this right can revive the urban promise.
For years, we have grown almost desensitized to the mounting knowledge that the condition of those with more resources (i.e. wealth) continues to accelerate, while the economic ascent of those with fewer means continues to stagnate. This is why it is almost no surprise when we hear that public transportation fare hikes in a nation like Chile, typically seen as a bastion for economic progress in Latin America, disproportionately impact the least wealthy citizens.
Simply put, mobility solutions and the planning structures meant to facilitate access to employment and other economic propellers have ground to a halt in affordably connecting individuals and opportunity.
Part of urbanization’s promise revolved around spurring a vibrant network for idea exchange and business incubation that would result in rational investments, innovation, and democratization of resources. This promise has yet to be fulfilled in many cities, resulting in concentric circles of economic stratification in urban locales across the globe. Mobility with intentional planning for the benefit of all residents can help these cities to collapse these rings of “haves” and “have nots.” Without a demonstrable prioritization of equity, accessibility, and affordability, the disparities between who thrives and who declines in the world’s urban centers are likely to widen and eradicate the promise of urbanization.
a global affairs media network
Equitable Mobility: The Essential (And Missing) Element of Productive Urbanization
November 10, 2020
Technological advancement and biased economic structures have impeded urbanization's promise of greater connectivity and resulting innovation. Lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic can help institute policies promoting equitable mobility, which can help redress some of these impediments.
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or decades, economists have highlighted urbanization’s two primary benefits as the inherent connectivity that allows idea sharing and the resulting innovation engine that drives prosperity. The ease of forging relationships, whether deep or transactional, triggered more efficient growth in densely populated areas. But technological advancement and biased economic structures have impeded this grand vision and demonstrated that dense population alone cannot produce prosperity. Forethought, principled measurement, planning, and the courage to elevate inclusive policies above quick fixes are the ingredients needed to create equitable paths to access and opportunities for residents of the world’s urban centers. Integrated smart mobility sits at the core of this notion.
If ideas are truly the currency of our economic, social, and cultural advancement, we have to prioritize equitable mobility as a central democratizing element of opportunity for urban and suburban populations. In a time when COVID-19 and social unrest have ignited calls for systemic change across the world, governments and forward-thinking organizations should seek to lay out ambitious plans to reimagine transport solutions.
Access to affordable mobility in urban centers has deteriorated consistently for years. In 2018, the World Bank estimated that more than 50% of the world's population lived in cities. Yet a recent analysis by the World Resources Institute found troubling disparities in access to affordable transportation for the majority of urban populations. For example, in Mexico City—the largest urban center in the western hemisphere—20% of residents (primarily those living on the city periphery) have little to no access to stable employment opportunities within one hour of their home via existing transport systems.
The consequences are simple to understand. Those residing outside of a city’s center can often face pricey, complex commutes that drain precious time from the day and cascade into challenging effects on quality of life, education access, and stable employment. Lengthy commutes for low-wage earners worldwide have become further complicated, if not perilous, during the global pandemic.
The implicit bias toward constructing affordable public transit in the center of cities, where high housing prices displace those with fewer means, drives an imbalance in how the urban experience “seeks to enfranchise” all. These are not trends constrained to Latin America, nor a particular hemisphere. Cities like London and other “north star” urban centers exhibit unfortunate trends of painful commute times and lower access to transport for less wealthy residents.
Equitable mobility at the center of urban opportunity.
Ambitious leaders in business and government can start to address these challenges sooner than many think. In fact, cities like Milan have worked to capitalize on learnings from the COVID-19 crisis to reshape transportation policy in hopes that its 75% reduction in air pollution and other benefits of lower roadway congestion can become lasting markers of the city’s identity.
In September, the World Economic Forum and the City of Los Angeles released “Principles of the Urban Sky,” a first-of-its-kind report that outlines foundational elements of urban air mobility for city leaders, residents, and business communities to consider. Leaders globally would be wise to evaluate such guidance as sustainable measures that can reenergize urban locales through courageous innovation.
Further, prioritization of some key principles for the future can help forge transformation that infuses more equitable transportation solutions into the world’s urban environments.
Cities have to embrace multimodal networks that offer affordable, accessible solutions for all inhabitants. This involves leaning into smart, resilient, and sustainable mobility solutions like never before. Electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircrafts, part of a new form of air mobility, are promising examples of a new pathway to making transport work better for urban and suburban communities.
Additionally, as cities transition back to higher rates of on-site work in the wake of mass “lockdowns,” urban planners and policymakers must better manage demand for non-pooled travel in private automobiles. This will necessitate creative solutions that offer a wider array of accessible transit options, as well as incentivize their use.
In the United States, more than 5,000 small public airports are underutilized. Those secondary and tertiary airports are increasingly important for the future of air travel and accessible mobility. Shifting passenger traffic to smaller, regional airports would help increase demand for multiple services and provide more convenient and affordable options for local residents. Increased use of smaller airports throughout the world represents a viable solution that should be on the table.
Getting this right can revive the urban promise.
For years, we have grown almost desensitized to the mounting knowledge that the condition of those with more resources (i.e. wealth) continues to accelerate, while the economic ascent of those with fewer means continues to stagnate. This is why it is almost no surprise when we hear that public transportation fare hikes in a nation like Chile, typically seen as a bastion for economic progress in Latin America, disproportionately impact the least wealthy citizens.
Simply put, mobility solutions and the planning structures meant to facilitate access to employment and other economic propellers have ground to a halt in affordably connecting individuals and opportunity.
Part of urbanization’s promise revolved around spurring a vibrant network for idea exchange and business incubation that would result in rational investments, innovation, and democratization of resources. This promise has yet to be fulfilled in many cities, resulting in concentric circles of economic stratification in urban locales across the globe. Mobility with intentional planning for the benefit of all residents can help these cities to collapse these rings of “haves” and “have nots.” Without a demonstrable prioritization of equity, accessibility, and affordability, the disparities between who thrives and who declines in the world’s urban centers are likely to widen and eradicate the promise of urbanization.
