The small resort city of Pärnu initiated their sustainable urban mobility planning process from scratch in 2006. “Pärnu’s challenge has been to define and scope the concept of SUMP to meet the needs of a small town that has some of the same challenges as bigger cities but on a different scale”, says Grete Kukk, Senior Specialist for Urban Development in Pärnu.
Transnational cooperation on SUMP development has made the city realize the need for a cross-sectoral approach in transport planning, especially the need to integrate land-use and transport planning. On the local level, a number of specialists and stakeholders from various fields have been involved in the cooperation to make the definition and scope for the Pärnu’s sustainable urban mobility plan.
As a result of the process, not only the scope and definition of Pärnu SUMP has been set but also a common vision for the whole functional city region has been derived. “Making the quality of urban environment and living better is the key for Pärnu in the future”, Kukk says.
The mobility plan scope and definition are set to the same targets. Therefore, the scope is to diminish the use of cars by developing a fair, accessible and attractive public transport system, by developing concrete bicycle policy for the city and by handling the seasonal transport problems accompanied by tourists.
Pärnu has taken the most important first steps to get started with the development of a sustainable urban transport. It has been possible by agreeing on the scope and definition of the mobility plan in cooperation with the cross-sectoral stakeholders and together with a transnational experience exchange. Although there is still a long way to go, the most important thing is to get started.
Photo: Michael Koucky/BUSTRIP Project