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Launched in 2012, the European Commission's Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) Award aims to encourage local authorities across Europe to adopt and develop their Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs). It also recognises outstanding achievements in each year’s SUMP chosen priority area. Seventeen applications from ten EU countries were submitted for the 2014 awards and the finalists announced as: Bremen (Germany); Dresden (Germany); and Ghent (Belgium). European Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bul

At the end of his four-day Grow America tour, US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced a proposed rule to increase oversight responsibilities of State Safety Oversight Agencies (SSOAs) by replacing the existing outdated regulatory framework with one designed to better evaluate the effectiveness of a rail transit agency’s system safety program. The proposed rule, issued by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), would give states more resources to increase oversight over rail transit systems. It

Fast charging of electric vehicles (EVs) in Denmark is about to become easier thanks to over US$1.1 million of funding from the EU's TEN-T Programme, which is funding a pilot project upgrading the existing charging stations in Denmark to common European standards. This will allow different types of electric vehicles from all over Europe to travel freely in Denmark and will serve as best practice to other European countries. The pilot project will transform 40 of Denmark’s 46 existing charging stations into

A number of Dutch provinces and municipalities are investigating whether ‘rapid’ cycling is a feasible transport option for commuters. The authorities in the Drenthe and Groningen provinces and the municipalities of Groningen, Haren, Assen and Tynaarlo are investigating whether a 30 kilometre route between Assen and Groningen can be adapted to encourage motorists to switch to bicycles. Several innovative options, such as sensors, alternative power generation and asphalt that glows in the dark, are being con

The American Automotive Policy Council (AAPC) has backed the proposal by US Representative Candice Miller to authorise the use of existing surface transportation funding to invest in vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) technologies that improve highway safety. Introducing the proposal earlier in February, Miller said, “V2I and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) technologies are undoubtedly the future of automotive safety. However, we need to make sure state and federal highway safety initiatives keep pace and allow for t

The EU's TEN-T Programme is to provide almost US$4 million for preparatory studies for a cross-border train and bus service linking Belfast in Northern Ireland to the rest of UK and neighbouring countries. The service will also integrate other transport modes and ensure a connection to Belfast’s Central Business District. The studies will identify how best to deliver a fully integrated service with amenities other transport users (taxis, cyclists, private cars, pedestrians) and a seamless connection to the

Galway in Ireland is set to receive part of a US$2.5 million government transport improvement grant to develop cycle paths and other cycling infrastructure in the city and the surrounding area. The grant will be distributed between 14 projects and, as well as money for cycling projects, other transport initiatives will receive funding. The cycling improvements will consist of new cycle paths and on-road cycle lanes, shared cycle-pedestrian facilities, crossing upgrades, increased bike parking facilities, im

The EU's TEN-T Programme will invest over US$500,000 in a study aimed at introducing an intelligent traffic management system in the port of Hamburg in Germany. The study is to contribute to an optimised use of the port's infrastructure, reduced traffic-related pollution, faster transport and cargo handling and improved road safety. The study will look into ways to improve the utilisation rates and cost-effectiveness of existing infrastructure and facilities in the port by introducing an intelligent traffic

Developed by UK vehicle safety specialists Sentinel Systems, the Bike Hotspot is designed to reduce the number of accidents involving cyclists and commercial vehicles. The system is designed to sense when a cyclist is within the blind spot of a large vehicle, a common cause for fatal accidents especially when the vehicle is manoeuvring or turning left. It comprises four of Sentinel’s safety aids including a front corner system, side scan system, a side camera and an external sounder and can be customised to

Boston, US, has formed a new data-sharing partnership with Google-owned traffic app Waze, to enable the city’s drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to check real time traffic conditions on Boston’s streets. The partnership aims to help improve traffic flow in Boston in two principal ways. As part of the partnership, the City will share information on expected road closures with the 400,000 users of Waze in Greater Boston, helping them find the best way to get around town. In addition, aggregated information o