Sustainable Island Mobility Plan (SIMP) – a practical guide for rural and island communities
The Sustainable Island Mobility Plan Guide (SIMP), developed by CIVINET Greece-Cyprus with the University of the Aegean and co-funded by the CIVITAS Initiative, offers a hands-on framework for designing affordable, people-centred mobility in small and medium-sized territories. Its approach also translates to rural areas facing sparse public transport, long distances to services, seasonality, and the need to safeguard natural and cultural heritage while improving access.
Source: CIVINET Greece-Cyprus
The guide provides a step-by-step planning process with a ready-to-use checklist for rural stakeholders such as municipalities and regions, LAGs/LEADER groups, transport operators, SMEs, and community organisations. The checklist includes:
- Low-cost measures such as demand-responsive transport, community ride-sharing and carpooling, safe walking/cycling networks, school mobility plans and small multimodal hubs;
- Practical methods to engage citizens and coordinate agencies;
- Simple tools that work even with limited data, allowing to start planning immediately and gradually and collect evidence to inform decisions.
Rural Pact members can use SIMP to enhance local mobility strategies and test quick-win solutions. Successful initiatives can then be expanded, boosting connectivity, fostering inclusion, increasing resilience, and reducing emissions.
The guide is free to download in English and Greek.
Author: CIVINET Greece-Cyprus