CIVITAS Success Story: Spotlight on Aachen (Germany) 8 Alignment with European standards and peers The 2011 EU white paper on transport was a strong basis that inspired Aachen Vision Mobility 2050. The vision also built off the achievements of cycling and parking management frontrunner cities across Europe, whose work acted as benchmarks in Aachen’s mobility strategy development, and continues to empower stakeholders to be daring and persistent as they push for changes to achieve mobility transition. Fast Facts Bicycle lane coverage: 4.2 km of cycling routes have been transformed from 2019–2021 alone Bike parking: 1076 bicycle parking spots (bike racks) were built in 2020 alone Clean vehicles: more than 50% of the city’s fleet (passenger cars) have been electrified; 27 electric buses (>10% of the fleet) have been procured with 14 already delivered Speed limit: a 30km/hr speed limit is in place in the inner city Increased capacity: +40% new colleagues in the sustainable mobility team Hear from a local citizen. Watch our interview with Fabian Schröter, a student of transportation engineering and mobility in Aachen. INTERVIEW Citizens at its heart Citizen engagement has always played an important role in Aachen’s mobility planning, which becomes evident by examining a number of recent political decisions, including: Removing parking for private cars; Devoting more space to people – specifically for walking, cycling, and tree-planting; Approving a citizens’ petition for significantly improved cycling infrastructure over the next 8 years (“Radentscheid Aachen”); Approving an integrated concept for climate protection; and Dedicating significant staff and financial resources to implement these measures. The newly elected – and first female – Lord Mayor Sibylle Keupen has emphasised both the needs for transport transformation, as well as citizen dialogue. The city administration’s work in these areas will thus continue to be pursued and expanded in that spirit. INTERVIEW