When it comes to the future of shared, connected, and automated mobility, it is crucial the voice of cities is heard loud and clear. SHOW (SHared automation Operating models for Worldwide adoption) is an ambitious European initiative aimed at advancing urban mobility by integrating automated transport systems. Eurocities’ role in the project ensures that cities, as the end-users of automated mobility systems, have a say in shaping policies, pilot projects, and outcomes. Together with the team of project partners, we are working toward sustainable, user-friendly, and inclusive transport solutions that are tailored to the specific needs of urban environments.
The local dimension
At its core, SHOW is designed to address real-world urban challenges. By working closely with cities and local authorities, the project facilitates the implementation of pilot programs across different regions. These pilots involve testing autonomous vehicles in diverse urban settings, from city centres to suburban areas, helping to identify the most effective and scalable mobility solutions. This local dimension ensures that the technologies developed are practical, adaptable, and aligned with the unique needs of each city and its residents.
The follower cities involved in the SHOW project included Thessaloniki, Geneva, Brussels, Helmond, Kadiköy, Sarajevo, Venice, Barcelona, Braga, Varna, Gdansk, Groningen, Paris, and Milan. These cities were selected due to their interest and readiness to adopt CCAM, with a focus on integrating automated vehicle systems into public transport, Demand Responsive Transport (DRT), and logistics services.
SHOW aimed to assist these cities in replicating SHOW’s innovative transport models by developing customised roadmaps suited to their local infrastructure and mobility needs. Through Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), site visits, and workshops, the follower cities gained valuable insights from SHOW pilot sites. Thessaloniki, Geneva, and Brussels contributed directly as formal follower sites (e.g., sharing data), while cities like Helmond, Sarajevo, Venice and Kadiköy made significant progress towards developing replication roadmaps for integrating automated public transport solutions through knowledge transfer and strategic planning.
By promoting collaboration and city-specific strategies, the SHOW project has empowered follower cities to advance their urban mobility frameworks and consider sustainable, automated transport technologies that align with their local goals.
Tools for your city
Regulatory recommendations for EU, national and local governments
In Recommendations for Adapting Regulatory and Operational Strategies for CCAV, deployment at Local and Regional Level, Eurocities provided a set of different ways in which cities could play a decisive role in the future deployment of shared CCAM services in urban areas. By applying ‘soft measures and policy interventions (e.g., licencing, incentives, recommendations, guidelines, codes of conduct, etc.) – in combination with conventional instruments (e.g., speed regimes, access regulations, etc.) – local decision-makers can make a difference.
To prepare for large-scale deployment, local authorities should develop an imaginative and forward-looking vision of how to maximise the potential benefits of shared CCAVs in providing safe, sustainable, and inclusive mobility while avoiding some of the currently perceived risks, including for example increased congestion, unfair competition with other sustainable modes and limited accessibility.
Application guidelines for cities, public transport authorities and public transport operators
The deployment of shared CCAM services in Europe offers valuable insights for cities, public transport authorities (PTAs), and public transport operators (PTOs). Key learnings include the need for integrating CCAM services into Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) to ensure they complement existing public transport systems. Local partnerships are crucial to building trust and aligning services with local needs, while collaboration with stakeholders can address technical challenges such as digital infrastructure and data sharing.
Accessibility is a central focus, encouraging cities to expand services to underserved areas and ensure inclusivity for all user groups. Cities are advised to adopt a learning-by-doing approach, starting with small-scale pilots to build expertise and refine operations. Additionally, scaling up services requires adapting physical and digital infrastructure, such as pick-up and drop-off points, to support automated vehicle fleets.
Public engagement and ongoing feedback are essential for refining CCAM services, fostering user trust, and ensuring safety. By working with local stakeholders, cities can create sustainable, efficient, and user-friendly mobility solutions that meet diverse needs.
For further details on these strategies and practical recommendations, refer to the SHOW booklet on CCAM services and the SHOW report D17.2: Best practices for implementation and application guidelines for Industry, Operators and Cities.
Policy support tool for local decision-makers
The LEVITATE Policy Support Tool is updated and tailored by NTUA to the needs of SHOW partners and cities.
This tool was chosen as it appeared to be a good basis and source of inspiration as it focuses on CCAM policies in urban areas. The policy support tool provides a solid basis to develop a system able to guide policymakers on the relevance of their CCAM-related policy measures – especially when it comes to cities that wish to include CCAM into their respective SUMPs. For further details on the policy support tool, please refer to SHOW D17.3: Cities and Authorities Decision-Making Mechanisms.
CCAM integration in SUMPs
The introduction of CCAM into cities’ SUMPs heralds a transformative era in European transportation. A SUMP in Europe is a strategic plan developed by cities and urban areas to promote sustainable transportation and improve the overall quality of life. As CCAM has the potential to bring great benefits to citizens and society, by making transport more affordable, safe, inclusive and sustainable, it is important to consider how it can be integrated into cities’ SUMP.
Within D17.4: CCAV integration in SUMP, we provide a comprehensive overview of the ongoing CCAM pilots within the SHOW project and their implications for the integration of CCAM into SUMPs. The integration of CCAM into SUMPs is not just about adopting new technologies while also about rethinking urban mobility in a way that is more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient.
Policymakers and planners need to stay informed about the latest developments in CCAM, understand the potential impacts, and be proactive in creating strategies that will leverage these technologies to improve urban mobility. By elucidating the status, challenges, and prospects, our document seeks to inform about the critical intersections between emerging technology and sustainable urban mobility.
Through these tools, Eurocities helps cities make informed, strategic decisions that will shape the future of urban mobility, ensuring safer, more efficient, and sustainable transport systems for all citizens.
Although SHOW’s activities have now wrapped up, that doesn’t mean that Eurocities or its members are finished in their quest to make local mobility more environmentally and people-friendly. Scroll down through our mobility topic page to discover our other projects, news and resources in this essential and ever-evolving area.
