Fixing the Mix: Reflections on the 2024 POLIS Conference in Karlsruhe

The 2024 Annual POLIS Conference in Karlsruhe brought together over 1 000 participants to address the challenges and opportunities of transforming urban mobility across Europe. Held in Baden-Württemberg, this milestone event marked the first instance of a region co-hosting alongside a city. With Karlsruhe's innovative tram-train model and the region’s progressive transport policies as a backdrop, the discussions focused on rethinking car dependence and integrating emerging technologies, such as urban air mobility (UAM), into public systems. The conference provided an honest appraisal of the barriers and opportunities shaping sustainable transport.

Fixing the Mix: A call for pragmatic solutions

At the centre of the conference was the opening plenary, Fix That Mix!, where policymakers and experts made the case for rebalancing public transport, active travel, and shared modes. POLIS Secretary General Karen Vancluysen emphasised the need for collaboration, while Winfried Hermann, Minister of Transport for Baden-Württemberg, described the gathering as a united response to global uncertainties: “We are 1 000 people fighting for sustainable mobility.”

Dr Frank Mentrup, Lord Mayor of Karlsruhe, highlighted his city’s efforts to integrate urban and rural mobility through its tram-train system, which minimises transfers and connects communities seamlessly. “Why should people adapt to transport when transport can adapt to them?” he asked, encapsulating a vision of people-centred mobility systems.

In his keynote, Philipp Rode, Executive Director of LSE Cities, critiqued car-centric mobility. He identified private vehicle dominance as a cause of inefficient land use, extended commutes, and diminished urban vibrancy. Rode advocated for shorter travel distances, multimodal hubs, and walkable cities, emphasising that movement should serve access, not be the end goal.

Tackling transport challenges

Parallel sessions explored key issues shaping Europe’s transport systems:

• Cycling and Infrastructure Development: In Cycling All the Way, perspectives from cities like Brussels and Venice highlighted the potential and challenges of expanding cycle highways and bike-sharing schemes. Jill Warren of the European Cyclists’ Federation called for recognising bike-sharing as a core public transport service, with subsidies and funding to ensure viability.
• Urban Freight and Logistics: Looking at Logistics Hubs examined last-mile delivery solutions, citing projects in Bologna and Utrecht that use micro-hubs and shared infrastructure to reduce environmental impacts.
• Shared and On-Demand Mobility: Sharing in Suburbia explored shared mobility’s role in rural areas, focusing on carpooling platforms and tailored bike-sharing schemes to enhance accessibility.

Other sessions, such as Managing Parking and Pathways to Climate Neutrality, highlighted how cities like Paris, Rotterdam, and Stockholm are reducing car dependency while addressing emissions and urban liveability.

Innovation in emerging mobility

The conference also looked ahead to how technologies like UAM and automated transport systems might be integrated into urban settings. The launch of the UAM Taskforce demonstrated a commitment to collaboration between cities, regions, and industry to tackle governance and risk challenges in aerial transport. Meanwhile, Gearing up Cities for Automation examined the practical implications of deploying autonomous vehicles, focusing on public acceptance and infrastructure needs.

A city as a case study

Karlsruhe’s commitment to sustainable transport made it an ideal host city. Delegates experienced its Kombilösung project, which reclaimed above-ground space for pedestrians and cyclists by moving sections of its tram network underground. Guided tours showcased the city’s transition to electric buses and its innovative integration of autonomous vehicles into public transport.

Moving forward

The POLIS Conference in Karlsruhe highlighted the complexity and potential of rethinking urban mobility. From technical discussions on parking and logistics to broader debates on inclusivity and political will, the event made it clear that sustainable mobility requires cross-disciplinary partnerships.

As attendees left for site visits on trams, bikes, and autonomous shuttles, the conference’s central message resonated: the solutions exist, but achieving progress demands a willingness to experiment, adapt, and collaborate.