Reports
Published: 7 March 2025

Combatting Congestion: How Cities and Companies are Innovating First- and Last-Mile Transport

Most cities today struggle with growing populations, rising energy demands and evolving transportation needs. Reliance on single-occupancy vehicles leads to congestion, pollution, longer commutes and road safety concerns, harming productivity and quality of life. To address these challenges, cities must adopt a modern mobility model that integrates public and shared transport.

Most cities today struggle with growing populations, rising energy demands and evolving transportation needs. Reliance on single-occupancy vehicles leads to congestion, pollution, longer commutes and road safety concerns, harming productivity and quality of life. To address these challenges, cities must adopt a modern mobility model that integrates public and shared transport.

A key area for improvement is the first and last mile of urban journeys. Optimizing these segments can enhance mobility access, reduce congestion, boost local economies, and improve urban health and quality of life. Efficient solutions are essential to meeting the increasing pressures on transport systems while ensuring sustainability.

This report explores strategies for enhancing first- and last-mile transport, featuring global examples of policy, technology and infrastructure innovations. While no single approach can solve urban congestion, these case studies demonstrate the potential of creative solutions and public-private collaboration in building more livable, sustainable cities.

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