Launched in 2018 with European Commission funding, SUMI set out to give European cities a consistent way to assess their transport systems and track the effects of mobility policies. The project adapted an indicator framework developed by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development to European data and policy needs.23
Its approach combined common definitions and calculation guidance with practical support for participating urban areas. The indicators were intended to help cities identify strengths and weaknesses in their mobility systems, measure changes over time and compare results with those of other cities. The project also developed a benchmarking tool and gathered city experience to inform recommendations for improving the indicators.16
The initial indicator set comprised 19 measures spanning different mobility policy areas. Testing exposed practical challenges: some data were difficult or costly to obtain, and definitions needed further alignment to make results comparable. Participating cities nevertheless considered the indicators useful and expressed willingness to continue collecting data.211 The European Commission’s project page describes a planned reach of at least 53 urban areas; project and institutional accounts report testing in roughly 46 to 50 areas, reflecting different descriptions of the project’s scope and implementation.126
The work was commissioned by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE). The consortium was led by Rupprecht Consult, with TRT Trasporti e Territorio, Transport & Mobility Leuven, Polis, Eurocities and UITP.69 Eurocities’ role included exploring barriers to indicator use and testing measures such as congestion, active-mobility opportunities and public-transport accessibility.12