The Deloitte City Mobility Index

The report

The Index goes beyond present-day transportation issues and looks to the future by offering a comprehensive review of key aspects of mobility in cities around the world. The Index sets out to create a new and better way for city officials, transport operators and public planners to gauge the readiness of their transport networks to embrace the Future of Mobility. Cities that move their citizens efficiently, inclusively, sustainably and in an integrated way will be the most successful in terms of productivity, liveability and flexibility.

Viewpoints / key findings

• "What's past is prologue", but no destiny.
  Both physical and political circumstances shape today's mobility landscape. Authorities must tackle and transform existing system, and cities can overcome past legacies with innovative approach. Governments need to get the basics right to provide infrastructure that works, enforce the rules, make sure the system is safe and ensure private players provide for all population group.
• Integration is key.
  Having multiple regulatory providers inhibits a smoothly functioning and integrated transportation system, but interagency coordination can be successful. Creating seamless urban transportation demands a unity of purpose and an ability to act in concert across different modes and jurisdictions.
• The challenges of private cars
  Our vision for smart urban mobility emphasizes active transportation and public transit, which means any city that relies heavily on private cars will fare poorly on several metrics in the index, and these cities should think through ways to optimize their use.
• Culture's role in transportation
  A number of native factors, such as geography and topography, climate, and social attitudes, can affect mobility options. Transport planners should incorporate or address this when creating their vision.
• China’s major cities in the context of global mobility
  Among the examined cities in China,
  
  • Shenzhen ranked highest with its world’s largest electric bus fleet, and strong car and bike sharing systems
  • Hong Kong has one of the most reliable, efficient, and accessible transport networks, while it has been lagging in its testing and adoption of new technologies, and it needs to adopt new ideas and create a more innovative environment or risk its position as a global model for public transport.
  • Shanghai, recognized worldwide for its metro system, continues to lead the way as it continually invests in building a more innovative transport system
  • Beijing, despite the challenges of pollution, congestion, and the need for operational improvements in public transport, its forward-looking approach and focus on new tech including electric vehicles and shared-mobility models should engender positive results for years to come.

Mobility plays a central role in a city's economic prosperity. This is why the rewards for getting it right are potentially great. Given the speed of change and technological trends, any city has the opportunity to radically remake its mobility landscape over the next five to ten years. Leaders need to identify what the "right" kind of spending is and help their cities become leaders in the future of mobility.