Venice, the picturesque Italian city renowned for its canals and historic architecture, is embarking on a transformative journey towards sustainable mobility. As part of the Toyota Mobility Foundation's $9 million Sustainable Cities Challenge, Venice is welcoming pioneering innovators from around the world to develop solutions that motivate residents and visitors to embrace low- and zero-carbon transport options.
The City of Venice, which encompasses the historic city center, lagoon islands, and mainland urban areas like Mestre and Marghera, has already made significant strides in promoting sustainable mobility. With over 180 km of bike lanes and bike-, scooter-, and hybrid car-sharing services, Venice was a trailblazer in Italy. The city has also invested in electrifying its public transport system, with 30 new electric buses in operation and plans for an additional 44. Moreover, Venice aims to launch 90 fuel cell buses by 2026 and introduce more than 32 hybrid waterbuses for its iconic canal network by 2029.
Despite these impressive initiatives, a 2023 Audimob report reveals that many people still rely on familiar, carbon-intensive transport methods and routes. As a result, the low- and zero-carbon transport options remain underutilized. The Sustainable Cities Challenge seeks to address this issue by inviting international innovators to develop creative solutions that encourage individuals to rethink their travel habits and embrace more sustainable alternatives.
Participants in the challenge will have the unique opportunity to work closely with city officials and key stakeholders, including mobility providers, to gain valuable insights into Venice's complex transport system, which comprises both land and water networks. By engaging directly with decision-makers and potential future partners, innovators will be well-positioned to design and deliver effective behavior change campaigns that resonate with the needs of commuters and local communities.
Paola Ravenna, Head of the European Policies Department for the City of Venice, emphasizes the importance of collaboration in achieving sustainability goals. "We understand the importance of making our city sustainable and have invested in a range of low-carbon transport systems for the people of Venice," she states. "However, we recognize that these changes cannot just come from building new infrastructure or creating policy alone. We need to find solutions that really respond to the needs of our residents, and that is why we are excited to be part of the Sustainable Cities Challenge."
The Toyota Mobility Foundation, in collaboration with Challenge Works and World Resources Institute, is spearheading this initiative to foster partnerships between cities and innovators, with the ultimate goal of developing sustainable, inclusive, and data-driven mobility solutions. Monica Perez Lobo, Director at Toyota Mobility Foundation Europe, highlights the global impact of the challenge, stating, "Throughout this Challenge, we will be working with innovators from countries across the world to encourage the people of Venice to adopt more sustainable methods of transport. The solutions developed here could also be applied to other cities, encouraging a global wave of sustainable mobility."
Kathy Nothstine, Head of Future Cities at Challenge Works, emphasizes the importance of understanding user needs in creating effective transport solutions. "Making transport systems more sustainable isn't just about developing new technical solutions. Understanding the needs of the people who use those systems is just as important," she explains. "This Challenge is a unique opportunity for innovators from different disciplines to apply their ideas in a real-world setting and will allow them to see what really works and has an impact on how people use transport systems in cities."
Ben Welle, Director of Integrated Transport and Innovation at WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities, expresses enthusiasm for the potential global impact of the solutions developed in Venice. "It is very exciting to see how innovators from around the world will respond to this Challenge and what solutions they will develop to help make the city of Venice more sustainable," he remarks. "This Challenge will result in real innovation which will benefit the people of Venice. But it is even more exciting to think how these solutions could also be applied to cities in other countries to improve the lives of even more people."
In addition to Venice, the Sustainable Cities Challenge includes two other host cities: Detroit, USA, and Varanasi, India. Detroit, once known as the 'Motor City,' is seeking innovators to help deploy clean and cost-effective mobility solutions, particularly in its Eastern Market area, the largest food production and distribution center in the United States. Varanasi, located on the banks of the Ganges River and considered the "spiritual capital" of India, aims to generate innovative, data-driven solutions that make crowded areas of its old city (Kashi) safer and more accessible for religious tourists and residents alike.
As Venice embarks on this transformative journey, the city stands poised to become a global leader in sustainable mobility. By harnessing the creativity and expertise of international innovators, Venice is not only investing in its own future but also paving the way for other cities around the world to embrace more sustainable, inclusive, and responsive transport systems. The solutions developed through the Sustainable Cities Challenge have the potential to reshape urban mobility and contribute to a greener, more livable future for all.
