ITU researcher part of Horizon Europe project to make urban mobility sustainable
Together with 31 partners from 15 countries Associate Professor Michael Szell will run a new urban mobility project implementing innovative mobility strategies in 12 cities for the next four years.
Michael SzellComputer Science DepartmentResearchalgorithmsdiversity
Written 23 January, 2024 09:02 by Theis Duelund Jensen
The JUST STREETS Horizon project focuses on developing streets shaped by active mobility that are both sustainable and inclusive for all citizens. This shift from the use of cars towards more active modes of mobility will be led by prioritizing the needs and visions of marginalized social groups, particularly women, migrants, the elderly, LGBTQI+ individuals, and people with disabilities.
“Putting marginalized social groups, the most vulnerable mobility users, as well as those citizens who previously have been underrepresented in mobility infrastructure decision-making will allow the project to create highly valuable knowhow, critical in creating better, more just, and sustainable cities for all citizens”, says Michael Szell.
“To reach this goal, ITU’s part of the project will develop algorithmic methods to study low traffic neighbourhoods and bicycle/pedestrian networks, and analyse mobility data with focus on safety, for better planning of human-centric, sustainable mobility.”
The goal of the international consortium is to empower 12 cities as frontrunners in transforming existing streets into just, equal, and human-centred spaces for active mobility, particularly bicycles. JUST STREETS is not only about change; it is about a transformative and systemic shift in perspective when planning and designing public space.
JUST STREETS is an international Horizon project coordinated by the Future Cities and Communities division of Turin-based LINKS Foundation commencing in January 2024.
Partner cities are Amsterdam (Netherlands), Braga (Portugal), Cugir (Romania), Haifa (Israel), Kozani (Greece), Milan (Italy), Riga (Latvia), Southwark (UK), Vilnius (Lithuania), Vratsa (Bulgaria), Westminster (UK), and Zaragoza (Spain).
Expert partners of the JUST STREETS consortium are Fondazione LINKS (Italy), Agenzia TPL (Italy), Centro Studi Pim (Italy), Climate Alliance (Germany), European Cyclists’ Federation (Belgium), Fundación CIRCE (Spain), International Federation of Pedestrians (Belgium), IT University of Copenhagen (Denmark), Politecnico di Torino (Italy), RINA Consulting (Italy), SocialFare (Italy), Southeast European Technological Company – SETECHCO (Bulgaria), Technical University of Cluj-Napoca (Romania), TECHNION – Israel Institute of Technology (Israel), TREDIT (Greece), University of Amsterdam (Netherlands), University of Porto (Portugal), University of Westminster (UK), Urban Future (Austria), and Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (Norway).
Theis Duelund Jensen, Press Officer, tel: 2555 0447, email: thej@itu.dk