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From SUMI to the new Urban Mobility Indicators: turning mobility data into better decisions

It happened without great fanfare, but it marks a major milestone for sustainable urban mobility planning in Europe: the EU’s harmonised Urban Mobility Indicators (UMIs) have now been released!


Developed under the revised Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) Regulation, these indicators create a common framework to monitor sustainability, safety and accessibility in urban mobility systems. They will help cities identify strengths and weaknesses, track progress and make more informed decisions.


For the 431 urban nodes designated under the TEN-T Regulation, this is not just a source of inspiration. Member States must report the UMI indicator data to the European Commission by 31 December 2027 and at certain intervals thereafter.



A journey that began with SUMI

The UMIs build on years of collaboration between the European Commission and Member States. Their origins go back to the Sustainable Urban Mobility Indicators, also known as SUMI project (2017-2020), in which we explored how harmonised indicators could support cities in assessing mobility sustainability.


It was the first in a series of three European projects through which Rupprecht Consult supported the European Commission in its efforts to develop a robust and practical indicator framework for cities across Europe.

We were closely involved throughout this journey from the early methodological discussions and testing activities through to the development of today’s European framework.


From methodology to real-world application

Our work on mobility indicators extends beyond the European process.


  • We coordinated the InuM project for the German Federal Ministry of Transport, developing a comprehensive indicator framework for municipalities of different sizes.

    Explore the InuM brochure here: BMV - Indikatoren nachhaltiger urbaner Mobilität

  • In Austria, we contributed our indicator expertise to the check4zero project.

  • In Munich, we continue to support the development of indicators for shared mobility.


Across all these projects, one lesson remained constant: defining indicators is only the first step. Cities must also address data availability, consistency, responsibilities and how the results can support planning and policy decisions in practice.


From reporting obligation to strategic opportunity

The new Urban Mobility Indicators should not be viewed primarily as a reporting obligation.


When used effectively, they can help urban nodes and other cities to:

  • establish a reliable baseline for their mobility system;

  • connect mobility objectives with measurable outcomes;

  • identify gaps in existing data and monitoring arrangements;

  • track whether SUMP measures are producing the intended effects;

  • communicate progress transparently to decision-makers and the public; and

  • compare developments over time using a consistent methodology.


We are also contributing directly to the use of UMIs through NAPCORE, strengthening the link between Urban Mobility Indicators, SUMP monitoring, and National Access Points.


The aim is to help Member States and urban nodes better understand how existing data systems and access points can support indicator collection, management and reporting, thereby strengthening evidence-based decision-making in sustainable urban mobility planning.


A central indicator hub for cities and regions

To support cities in managing indicators more effectively, we developed an online dashboard that brings together data collection, storage, management, analysis, and visualisation in one intuitive platform.


SUMP Dashboard

The SUMP Dashboard enables cities and regions to coordinate across departments, maintain transparent data records, identify trends and communicate results effectively, and turn complex datasets into clear, actionable insights.


Explore what this could mean for you, contact Hana Peters for a demo


Indicators are also central to the updated SUMP Guidelines (3rd Edition)

The updated SUMP Guidelines (3rd Edition) place strong emphasis on indicator-based monitoring and evaluation throughout the SUMP process. Cities are encouraged to define objectives, indicators, baselines, targets and monitoring responsibilities from the very beginning, not only at the end of the implementation.


The direction is clear: effective sustainable urban mobility planning increasingly depends on translating ambitions into measurable results and using data to guide decisions.


How we can support you

Rupprecht Consult supports urban nodes, cities, regions and national authorities throughout the entire indicator process – from methodology and data assessment to governance, calculation and integrated monitoring systems.

 With years of experience in both developing and applying mobility indicators, we help turn requirements into meaningful, evidence-based mobility planning.


Interested in exploring collaboration opportunities?

Get in touch with Dr. Ralf Brand, our expert in mobility indicators, to discuss how your city or region can strengthen its SUMP monitoring framework through an optimal indicator-based approach.


More about indicators here: Indicators | Rupprecht Consult


 
 
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