During the first CIVITAS Cities Meet & Greet on 4 December 2025, cities from across Europe and neighbouring regions met online to exchange experiences, challenges and expectations around sustainable urban mobility. The session was designed as a peer-to-peer conversation using Mentimeter to spark engagement. 

Around 20 city representatives from 12 different countries and CIVINET networks used the Meet & Greet to introduce their local challenges and to openly discuss three themes proposed through registrations: 1) tourism mobility, 2) shared micromobility and 3) mobility challenges linked to topography.   

A strong message emerged: knowledge alone is not enough. While cities value inspiration and exchange, many participants stressed that they are now looking for concrete pathways to implementation. 

Cities highlighted regulatory barriers, limited funding and uncertainty about business models in tourism mobility. Participants asked for concrete examples from other cities, such as the Velo Tourism event in Bandırma. Solutions like restricted access zones, park-and-ride facilities and dedicated tourist information are being tested by them. Pilot city participation and joint programmes with universities were identified as potential funding opportunities.

Local context was a recurring theme. Cities with hilly or complex topography stressed that standard mobility solutions do not always work in their context. Cycling, walking, public transport and accessibility measures become more complex and costly when elevation differences are significant. Participants expressed a strong interest in learning from cities facing similar geographical challenges and in tested, adaptable solutions rather than one-size-fits-all approaches. The most frequently mentioned solutions were dedicated bus routes, e-bike schemes and targeted infrastructure, such as adapted cycling lanes, mobility hubs and slope-friendly pedestrian connections.

The conversation on shared micromobility reflected a shared experience across cities: the rapid growth of shared e-scooters, largely driven by private operators. While cities see clear potential benefits, many highlighted the urgent need for clear regulation, stronger safety requirements, and structured cooperation frameworks with operators to ensure micromobility supports public goals rather than creating new problems.
Cities finally also voiced a clear expectation towards CIVITAS: more practical learning formats, guidance on regulation, curated funding examples and support with partner matchmaking.

Continue the conversation during the next Cities Meet & Greet

The next session will take place on 5 March (10:30-11:30 CET) in the same interactive format as the previous session.

City representatives are again invited to learn from peers and explore concrete ways to turn sustainable mobility ambitions into action.

Register today and submit your questions in advance to help shape the discussion.  

We look forward to meeting you online!

Author: Mobiel21

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