BATS (Baltic Sea region- Active MobiliTy Solutions – in darkness and all-weather conditions)
Active mobility, which includes cycling and walking, is central to promoting the transition to a more sustainable mobility system. However, the proportion of pedestrians and cyclists decreases sharply during the darker and colder months.
By tradition, mobility and road planning is still largely designed for cars, and planning for cyclists and pedestrians is usually geared towards daylight and warmer weather conditions. For cycling and walking to remain an alternative for the whole year it needs to be safe, secure, and attractive in all seasons. This requires suitable and quality infrastructure, optimal traffic systems, and effective removal of snow, ice, leaves, and other debris from roads and paths.
The project BATS (Baltic Sea region- Active MobiliTy Solutions – in darkness and all-weather conditions) funded by Interreg BSR seeks to flip the traditional mobility planning script by empowering planners with the necessary insights into the benefits of “year-round active mobility” (YRAM). Seven cities and five knowledge partners are collaborating to design and implement policies, infrastructures and campaigns that effectively promote walking and cycling in adverse light and weather conditions.
Through evidence-based recommendations and innovative tools, the project aims to foster a year-round culture of active mobility, contributing to sustainable, healthy, and low carbon mobility systems. BATS will develop a YRAM Technical Toolkit that helps planners to improve infrastructure and traffic systems for year-round use, and a Citizen Activation Guide for YRAM to help planners engage citizens in the benefits of walking and cycling in all seasons.
Lead partner: Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg-Borough of Altona (DE)
Project partners: Umeå Municipality (SE), Porvoo (FI), Municipality of Gdynia (PL), Kalundborg Municipality (DK), Klaipeda Public Transport Authority (LT), Union of Harju County Municipalities (EE), Gate 21 (DK), Swedish Cycling Advocacy Organization (SE), Aalto University (FI), Tallinn University of Technology (EE), Gdansk University of Technology (PL).
Project duration: 1 November 2023 - 31 October 2026
Project budget: €3,520,369€(€2,816,295 European funding)
Funding programme: Interreg Baltic Sea Region; Priority 3: Climate-neutral societies; Objective 3.3: Smart Green mobility
Website: interreg-baltic.eu/project/bats/
Spatial Planning and Transportation Engineering
Urban realities are becoming increasingly dynamic, complex and fragmented while demands for their liveability, sustainability, competitiveness, and attractiveness increase. Our research connects spatial planning and transportation engineering for developing new scientific knowledge needed in systemic understanding, problem-solving, and integrative planning and policy-making beyond sectoral boundaries, aimed at achieving equitable, sustainable and attractive environments.
