As 2023 draws to a close, the editorial team behind City Transport & Traffic Innovation Magazine (CiTTi) – the UK’s leading B2B publication dedicated to advancements in sustainable urban mobility – look back on what’s been a monumental year for the transportation sector and the CiTTi brand itself…
In the last 12 months, electrification has been a key focus, with an increase in electric vehicles (EVs) and expansion of charging infrastructure, including at workplaces, aligned with broader efforts to reduce urban pollution and meet climate targets via the delivery of new and expanded emission-based schemes, such as clean air zones and London’s own Ultra-Low Emission Zone.
The UK government also set out the percentage of new zero-emission cars that manufacturers will be required to produce each year up to 2030, following the controversial decision to delay the ban on the sale of new diesel and petrol cars from 2030 to 2035.
Micromobility solutions, notably e-scooters, surged in popularity this year, offering cost-effective, traffic-free travel alternatives, though their legal status remains under discussion.
Cities began transitioning to Software-as-a-Service models, transforming the speed of innovation in mobility management applications, including the development of apps that allow consumers to plan travel, pay for all services at once, receive tickets, and get real-time travel information. In parallel to this was the rise of mobility hubs and the creation of spaces where various modes of transport converge, enhancing efficiency and accessibility.
The lingering impact of the Covid-19 pandemic was still felt in public transport usage patterns, with a shift in peak-time travel and a focus on keeping transport affordable in the face of rising energy costs and funding uncertainties. And while initiatives such as the £2 bus fare cap were introduced, and subsequently extended, to attract more passengers, concerns remain about the long-term sustainability and growth in passenger numbers.
In the year of COP 28 in Dubai, decarbonisation efforts and climate resilience were very much central for policymakers, with a number of major investments and initiatives to make walking and cycling more attractive and safer.
What’s more, the legal and regulatory framework for new mobility, including autonomous vehicles, really picked up momentum in 2023, aiming to balance innovation with public safety and urban needs.
Upon reflection, these trends represent a hugely dynamic period in UK urban transport, driven by a combination of technological advancements, environmental concerns and a commitment to creating more inclusive and efficient urban mobility solutions.
2023 was also a banner year for CiTTi Magazine‘s affiliated events. Not only did the CiTTi Awards double in size in its second year, but the Road User Charging Conference in Brussels, Belgium marked its 20th anniversary with the biggest edition in its history, before spreading its wings with a second instalment of Road User Charging Conference USA in Miami, Florida and a brand-new launch event in the form of Road User Charging Conference Asia Pacific in Singapore.
Continue reading below as CiTTi Magazine delves into some most important and popular news stories, videos, comment pieces, and events of the last year…
New report ranks three UK cities among ‘worst in Europe’ for clean transport
In July, a report was published that named three UK cities as some of the worst in Europe for clean transport options. The report, published by clean air advocacy coalition Clean Cities Campaign, used indicators of shared micromobility options, such as e-bikes, zero-emissions buses, publicly-available electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and shared electric cars to rank 42 European cities…
Swansea Council to enforce new speed limits with vehicle signage solution
Swansea Council awarded a contract to intelligent traffic solutions and technology business Swarco in July to design, install and maintain a bespoke vehicle activated signage solution to support new 20mph national speed limits and warn drivers of their high speeds…
New legislation aims to standardise payments for UK’s public EV chargepoints
The UK government released updated draft legislation in the summer around UK public EV chargepoints, which intends to standardise rules for operators and address ongoing issues with the charging network. Some of the legislation’s key policies cover issues of contactless payment, payment roaming, pricing transparency…
ITIS Holding brings everything from the toll business under one roof
This Corporate Insight article, published in May, discussed one of the largest transactions in tolling – ITIS Holding’s integration of toll operators CzechToll and SkyToll. Matej Okáli, CEO of ITIS Holding, explained what benefits and innovations the global tolling industry could expect to receive from the newly formed organisation…
Germany to implement CO2-based tolling scheme
In July, Germany confirmed plans to implement a CO2-dependent toll system for all vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tonnes. According to the German federal government’s ‘Third Amendment to Road Toll Regulations‘ project, an additional rate for CO2 emissions related to road transport came into effect on 01 December 2023…
This year, CiTTi Magazine provided comprehensive coverage of its publisher, Akabo Media, and its portfolio of industry-leading events, including the second annual CiTTi Awards and its growing stable of world-renowned Road User Charging Conferences in Brussels, Miami and Singapore. CiTTi also reported a number of other Akabo Media-affiliated events this year, including the 27th Supply Chain Excellence Awards and previewed next year’s Sustainable Supply Chain Exhibition.
CiTTi Awards 2023 highlights and reaction!
Watch the highlights from, and reaction to, the second annual CiTTi Awards, which took place on Tuesday 21 November 2023 at the historic De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London!
Road User Charging Conference 2023 Review
CiTTi Magazine‘s resident columnist, Keith Mortimer, reflected on the 20th anniversary edition of the world’s longest running independent annual gathering of tolling, RUC and ITS experts, which took place on 07-08 March 2023, Steigenberger Wiltcher’s, Brussels, Belgium, and saw close to 200 people in attendance…
Road User Charging Conference Asia Pacific 2023 Review
CiTTi Magazine editor John Thornton shareed key highlights from the inaugural Road User Charging Conference Asia Pacific, which took place on the 05-06 October 2023 at the Four Points by Sheraton Riverview Hotel in Singapore…
Truckfile, Dakota Integrated Solutions, VisionTrack and Nicholls Transport win transport categories at Supply Chain Excellence Awards 2023
Truckfile, Dakota Integrated Solutions, VisionTrack and Nicholls Transport were among the winners of the transport categories at the 27th annual Supply Chain Excellence Awards, held Thursday, 09 November 2023, at the London Hilton on Park Lane…
Sustainable Supply Chain Exhibition to launch in 2024!
What you need to know about this first-of-its-kind exhibition dedicated to sustainable practices and processes in the supply-chain and logistics industry, coming to Halls 6 & 7 of the NEC Birmingham in 2024!
Electric air taxi completes first untethered UK flight
Candela launches new electric passenger ferry in Sweden
Coventry VLR vehicle tested on bespoke track system
Toyota to develop EV battery ‘with 620-mile range’ as part of new technology ambition
HyperloopTT reveals new express freight design
How electric vehicle batteries could save the UK auto industry
Are low-traffic neighbourhoods greenwashing? Here’s what the evidence says
Self-driving buses that go wherever you want? How the UK is trying to revolutionise public transport
National road-user charges are needed – and most people are open to it, our research shows
Why are we still on the fence about EVs?
2023 mobility trends
Revisit this ‘mobility trends’ feature, published in the first issue of CiTTi Magazine this year. In the article, we asked transport experts to predict the biggest changes and improvements to urban mobility in 2023. Were their predictions right? You decide…
Automated Vehicles Bill announced in King’s Speech
Major legislation signalling the first step to the commercial deployment of self-driving vehicles on UK roads was announced as part of the King’s speech in November…
Paris bans e-scooters
In September, Paris became the first major European city to ban rental e-scooters, some five years after being among the first to adopt them. Back in April, 90% of the French public voted in favour of a ban on e-scooters, following a number of injuries and three fatalities sustained as a result of using the vehicles…
London-wide ULEZ launches following High Court ruling
In August, London’s Ultra-Low Emission Zone was expanded to the UK capital city’s outer boroughs after the scheme was ruled lawful by the High Court. Five Conservative-run councils had launched legal action in February over the expansion, which now sees drivers of non-compliant vehicles across the whole of London and border areas of Surrey, Kent, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Hertfordshire charged £12.50 a day to use them…
UK’s largest public EV charging hub opens at NEC Birmingham
A new EV charging hub – big enough to charge 180 cars simultaneously – opened at the NEC Birmingham in September. It marked a significant boost for Britain’s EV charging network, becoming the largest EV charging site in the UK…
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