Last month’s POLIS mobility conference in the Netherlands put ‘Healthy Urban Living’ in the spotlight, highlighting best practice
Utrecht’s central station
This year’s POLIS mobility conference was hosted by the city of Utrecht in the Netherlands on November 26 and 27. Polis, based in Brussels, is composed of cities and regions, as well as corporate partners, from across Europe, promoting the development and implementation of sustainable mobility. This year’s event had over a thousand attendees in various policy forums as well as a sponsor exhibition.
The POLIS conference provides an opportunity to observe the progress and challenges in deploying sustainable mobility across the continent.
Utrecht is a prosperous, multi-modal, sustainable city in the centre of the Netherlands. The obvious success of this city in developing a sustainable mobility environment set the tone for the rest of the conference. The city provides lessons for other cities, while continuing to grapple with its own challenges.
Utrecht is a city of just under 400,000 people in the east of the Randstad area of the Netherlands which also contains the other three largest cities in the country – Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague – and has a population of eight and a half million people. The wider region is a mix of historic urban areas, suburban developments, industrial zones, and protected rural and farming areas between the developed towns and cities. The general land use pattern has many similarities with England. The wider region also includes the large Port of Rotterdam as well as Schiphol airport. This area of the Netherlands is a major economic engine of the continent and a successful, prosperous, and dynamic region.
A common issue throughout the Netherlands is how to deal with the continuing economic growth in terms of new jobs and residents
A common issue throughout the Netherlands is how to deal with the continuing economic growth in terms of new jobs and residents. This population growth is intense, widespread and most towns and cities are preparing plans for significant new housing, yet the Netherlands has a long history of comprehensive, compact and liveable community design as well as recognising the limits and needs of the natural environment. One is never far from canals and waterways and much of the country is either below sea level or at risk of severe flooding if water is not intensively managed. In addition, infrastructure for water protection, energy generation and distribution, as well road, water and rail freight corridors to transport goods from the ports to the heart of Europe are widespread. There is very limited land available to be used for urban sprawl and thus this is not being considered as an urban development option in the country.
Growth, while widespread and generally welcomed, is challenging the country.
In Utrecht’s case, the city is expected to grow to over 450,000 by 2040. A further example is Amsterdam’s expected population increase from approximately 930,000 to one million by 2031.
These issues are stimulating significant thought and development of mobility policy in the country as well as excellent examples of best practice for cities across Europe and the wider world.
The population growth issues seem more acute than those seen in the UK and are also linked to increasing jobs, growth and the need for commercial and industrial land as well.
Forty-four percent of the Utrecht’s internal trips are by bicycle. The cycle is omnipresent as a means of mobility. All types of people are seen using this mode and cycle flows on the city streets can be remarkably intense. However, the city also has a comprehensive classic public transport system of buses and a new tram network. A unique urban feature is that the large campus of the city’s university is on the edge of the built-up area and this generates large passengers flows across the city.
Utrecht is also at the heart of the Dutch railway network and has the largest and busiest railway station in the country with over 200,000 embarking and disembarking passengers and 1,000 daily train arrivals. The rail network provides ample, timely and efficient connections from all major cities in the region as well as country. The railway station was completely rebuilt through to 2016 as an expanded multi-modal hub for trains, the city’s tram, local and regional buses as well as cycles. It contains an underground cycle parking facility for 12,500 bicycles on one side of the station. As well as another smaller facility on the other side. The station is so large and modern it has the feeling of a contemporary airport terminal. The railway station area is also being steadily redeveloped as a large scale and high-rise office and residential quarter for the city to deal with the mentioned economic growth.
There is optimism in terms of mobility in the city and accessibility is simply excellent.
The Netherlands is well known for its cycling culture and Utrecht presents a very visible example. Even on the edges of the urban area a calm network of cycle and pedestrian facilities are still maintained to connect nearby smaller towns, suburbs and local destinations into the regional, and national, micro-mobility network.
However, the city is at the heart of a large diverse economy and car and truck traffic is also intense. Traffic is managed away from the city but, has still left the city with a major motorway that divides it from the university area. The compact city is never far from extensive heavy goods movements travelling to and from the large industrial centres in Germany and the North Sea ports.
The number of bicycles also creates a series of issues in managing cycle parking in a dense, historic city and this has led to the city aggressively seeking solutions to move cycle parking off central city streets and inside or underground. Similarly, pedestrian flows are intense and pedestrians still need to feel safe amongst the city traffic and bicycles. While Utrecht is generally a youthful city due to its large university, like most European countries the Netherlands is experiencing an ageing society and many more older people still want access to safe streetscapes.
Dutch culture has developed a remarkable tolerance for sharing road and sidewalk space and enabling multiple modes to, in most cases, seamlessly co-exist with minimal conflict. This would not be so typical in most other global cities and cultures where most modes are controlled by separation or other physical means.
A theme in this year’s conference was ‘Healthy Urban Living’
A theme in this year’s conference was ‘Healthy Urban Living’. Representatives from a range of cities including Utrecht, Heidelburg as well as a health insurance representative and the World Health Organisation discussed these issues. A key outcome was that doing nothing and continuing with the status quo in most cities in Europe and across the wider world will lead in worsening environmental and health outcomes for residents which will become increasing visible. Thus, there is a need to change the narrative on space within cities to a positive conversation that engages residents and businesses on how they want (limited) space to be used.
The conference’s final plenary had speakers including from New Mobility Foundation and a former prime minister of the Netherlands – J P Balkenende and the European Union.
The session also discussed the issue of ‘Transport Poverty’ and the need to enable transport to deliver the ability for a wider range of citizens to be able to socially and economically participate in society.
The conference included parallel sessions that deepened the mobility discussion.
One session focussed on issues of developing mobility solutions for developing as well as existing suburban areas that already have less than favourable designs for micro-mobility and other sustainable transport. This is also an issue in the Netherlands regarding older suburban areas as well as is widespread in a country like the UK. The strong recommendation within the session was to install high quality, safe and accessible connections and shortcuts within the structure of these older communities that favour mobility as a pedestrian and cyclist and encourage people to explore and enjoy their own local communities.
The city of Rome was well-represented in the sessions and discussed, in contrast to the situation in the Netherlands, how promoting cycling as well as use of classic public transport has become a key strategic priority even though cycling levels are currently very low. Measures include new micro-mobility infrastructure, low-priced combined tickets for public transport and shared transport, proactive discussion within the city of the needs of sustainable transport as well as a massive long-term programme in rail based public transport expansion. Rome and the Rome Mobility Agency were conference winners of the Polis Award for success in advancing the sustainable mobility agenda.
A further session – provocatively entitled ‘Fighting Fake Freedom: Overcoming Forced Car Ownership’ examined shared car ownership in global cities, sustainable development in the Netherlands re the role of cars, the impacts of social exclusion where cars are deemed the only viable means of mobility and why these issues are not discussed more widely within and outside of the mobility community.
The POLIS conference will return in early December 2026 and will be held in Brussels, Belgium.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Giles K Bailey is a Director at Stratageeb, a London based consultancy assisting businesses think about their strategic vision and innovation. Previously, he had spent nine years as Head of Marketing Strategy at Transport for London.
This article appears alongside further coverage in the latest issue of Passenger Transport.
DON’T MISS OUT – GET YOUR COPY! – click here to subscribe!
Utrecht’s multi-modal showcase
by Passenger Transport on Dec 15, 2025 • 10:48 am No CommentsLast month’s POLIS mobility conference in the Netherlands put ‘Healthy Urban Living’ in the spotlight, highlighting best practice
This year’s POLIS mobility conference was hosted by the city of Utrecht in the Netherlands on November 26 and 27. Polis, based in Brussels, is composed of cities and regions, as well as corporate partners, from across Europe, promoting the development and implementation of sustainable mobility. This year’s event had over a thousand attendees in various policy forums as well as a sponsor exhibition.
The POLIS conference provides an opportunity to observe the progress and challenges in deploying sustainable mobility across the continent.
Utrecht is a prosperous, multi-modal, sustainable city in the centre of the Netherlands. The obvious success of this city in developing a sustainable mobility environment set the tone for the rest of the conference. The city provides lessons for other cities, while continuing to grapple with its own challenges.
Utrecht is a city of just under 400,000 people in the east of the Randstad area of the Netherlands which also contains the other three largest cities in the country – Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague – and has a population of eight and a half million people. The wider region is a mix of historic urban areas, suburban developments, industrial zones, and protected rural and farming areas between the developed towns and cities. The general land use pattern has many similarities with England. The wider region also includes the large Port of Rotterdam as well as Schiphol airport. This area of the Netherlands is a major economic engine of the continent and a successful, prosperous, and dynamic region.
A common issue throughout the Netherlands is how to deal with the continuing economic growth in terms of new jobs and residents. This population growth is intense, widespread and most towns and cities are preparing plans for significant new housing, yet the Netherlands has a long history of comprehensive, compact and liveable community design as well as recognising the limits and needs of the natural environment. One is never far from canals and waterways and much of the country is either below sea level or at risk of severe flooding if water is not intensively managed. In addition, infrastructure for water protection, energy generation and distribution, as well road, water and rail freight corridors to transport goods from the ports to the heart of Europe are widespread. There is very limited land available to be used for urban sprawl and thus this is not being considered as an urban development option in the country.
Growth, while widespread and generally welcomed, is challenging the country.
In Utrecht’s case, the city is expected to grow to over 450,000 by 2040. A further example is Amsterdam’s expected population increase from approximately 930,000 to one million by 2031.
These issues are stimulating significant thought and development of mobility policy in the country as well as excellent examples of best practice for cities across Europe and the wider world.
The population growth issues seem more acute than those seen in the UK and are also linked to increasing jobs, growth and the need for commercial and industrial land as well.
Forty-four percent of the Utrecht’s internal trips are by bicycle. The cycle is omnipresent as a means of mobility. All types of people are seen using this mode and cycle flows on the city streets can be remarkably intense. However, the city also has a comprehensive classic public transport system of buses and a new tram network. A unique urban feature is that the large campus of the city’s university is on the edge of the built-up area and this generates large passengers flows across the city.
Utrecht is also at the heart of the Dutch railway network and has the largest and busiest railway station in the country with over 200,000 embarking and disembarking passengers and 1,000 daily train arrivals. The rail network provides ample, timely and efficient connections from all major cities in the region as well as country. The railway station was completely rebuilt through to 2016 as an expanded multi-modal hub for trains, the city’s tram, local and regional buses as well as cycles. It contains an underground cycle parking facility for 12,500 bicycles on one side of the station. As well as another smaller facility on the other side. The station is so large and modern it has the feeling of a contemporary airport terminal. The railway station area is also being steadily redeveloped as a large scale and high-rise office and residential quarter for the city to deal with the mentioned economic growth.
There is optimism in terms of mobility in the city and accessibility is simply excellent.
The Netherlands is well known for its cycling culture and Utrecht presents a very visible example. Even on the edges of the urban area a calm network of cycle and pedestrian facilities are still maintained to connect nearby smaller towns, suburbs and local destinations into the regional, and national, micro-mobility network.
However, the city is at the heart of a large diverse economy and car and truck traffic is also intense. Traffic is managed away from the city but, has still left the city with a major motorway that divides it from the university area. The compact city is never far from extensive heavy goods movements travelling to and from the large industrial centres in Germany and the North Sea ports.
The number of bicycles also creates a series of issues in managing cycle parking in a dense, historic city and this has led to the city aggressively seeking solutions to move cycle parking off central city streets and inside or underground. Similarly, pedestrian flows are intense and pedestrians still need to feel safe amongst the city traffic and bicycles. While Utrecht is generally a youthful city due to its large university, like most European countries the Netherlands is experiencing an ageing society and many more older people still want access to safe streetscapes.
Dutch culture has developed a remarkable tolerance for sharing road and sidewalk space and enabling multiple modes to, in most cases, seamlessly co-exist with minimal conflict. This would not be so typical in most other global cities and cultures where most modes are controlled by separation or other physical means.
A theme in this year’s conference was ‘Healthy Urban Living’. Representatives from a range of cities including Utrecht, Heidelburg as well as a health insurance representative and the World Health Organisation discussed these issues. A key outcome was that doing nothing and continuing with the status quo in most cities in Europe and across the wider world will lead in worsening environmental and health outcomes for residents which will become increasing visible. Thus, there is a need to change the narrative on space within cities to a positive conversation that engages residents and businesses on how they want (limited) space to be used.
The conference’s final plenary had speakers including from New Mobility Foundation and a former prime minister of the Netherlands – J P Balkenende and the European Union.
The session also discussed the issue of ‘Transport Poverty’ and the need to enable transport to deliver the ability for a wider range of citizens to be able to socially and economically participate in society.
The conference included parallel sessions that deepened the mobility discussion.
One session focussed on issues of developing mobility solutions for developing as well as existing suburban areas that already have less than favourable designs for micro-mobility and other sustainable transport. This is also an issue in the Netherlands regarding older suburban areas as well as is widespread in a country like the UK. The strong recommendation within the session was to install high quality, safe and accessible connections and shortcuts within the structure of these older communities that favour mobility as a pedestrian and cyclist and encourage people to explore and enjoy their own local communities.
The city of Rome was well-represented in the sessions and discussed, in contrast to the situation in the Netherlands, how promoting cycling as well as use of classic public transport has become a key strategic priority even though cycling levels are currently very low. Measures include new micro-mobility infrastructure, low-priced combined tickets for public transport and shared transport, proactive discussion within the city of the needs of sustainable transport as well as a massive long-term programme in rail based public transport expansion. Rome and the Rome Mobility Agency were conference winners of the Polis Award for success in advancing the sustainable mobility agenda.
A further session – provocatively entitled ‘Fighting Fake Freedom: Overcoming Forced Car Ownership’ examined shared car ownership in global cities, sustainable development in the Netherlands re the role of cars, the impacts of social exclusion where cars are deemed the only viable means of mobility and why these issues are not discussed more widely within and outside of the mobility community.
The POLIS conference will return in early December 2026 and will be held in Brussels, Belgium.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Giles K Bailey is a Director at Stratageeb, a London based consultancy assisting businesses think about their strategic vision and innovation. Previously, he had spent nine years as Head of Marketing Strategy at Transport for London.
This article appears alongside further coverage in the latest issue of Passenger Transport.
DON’T MISS OUT – GET YOUR COPY! – click here to subscribe!