Europeans love variety – in food, in fashion, in music – so why is it that when it comes to transport so many of us stick to one mode? This year’s EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK encourages participants to explore the many different options available for getting from A to B, and to think about the mode that best suits their particular journey.

Many people instinctively opt for the same method of transport when moving around without necessarily examining the needs of the specific journey. EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK 2018 is focusing on ‘multimodality’ - the mixing of transport modes within the same journey or for different trips. The car may be the best way to take your family to the seaside, for example, but is it the best way to get them to the city centre where space and access is often limited?

EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK takes place from 16 – 22 September annually and gives people the opportunity to explore the role of mobility in their daily lives and to experiment with practical solutions to urban transport challenges, including air pollution and road accidents. It culminates in the international Car-Free Day on 22 September.

The campaign is organised with the political and financial support of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport. EU Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc has declared 2018 the ‘Year of Multimodality’, which has defined the theme of this year’s EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK. The call to action “Mix and Move!” encourages people to see how their daily travel needs can be met more efficiently, more cost-effectively, and more enjoyably by mixing transport modes.

Embracing the concept of multimodality means rethinking the way we move about our cities, and having the willingness to try out new forms of mobility. Local authorities can use the growing trend towards digitalisation to develop a truly sustainable and integrated transport system that takes advantage of the strengths of different transport modes.

Towns and cities can register their participation in this year’s campaign on the EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK website.

For more information, visit www.mobilityweek.eu.