Famous for its close-knit medieval old town, the Basque city of Vitoria-Gasteiz in northern Spain has more recently developed a reputation as a hotbed of innovation in sustainable mobility.  

“For us, transforming the city’s mobility system is an opportunity not only to mitigate transportation emissions, but also to prepare the city to be more adapted for the future of the climate crisis,” said Juan Carlos Escudero, Head of Mobility and Data Science at Vitoria-Gasteiz’s Centre for Environmental Studies, a public agency that supports the city council on urban environment, climate, mobility and innovation policies. 

As one of the first Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities of the European Commission Vitoria-Gasteiz remains focused on finding new solutions for its urban transport challenges. To support this innovation mission, the city has taken part in several carefully selected pilot projects in recent years, supported by EIT Urban Mobility. 

“Innovation is needed to change how cities plan their mobility systems. We try to stay alert to specific innovations that fit the interests and particularities of the city,” Escudero shared. “Private cars are still used a lot. We need to offer more convenient alternatives for daily mobility, which is why participation in initiatives like those of EIT Urban Mobility is so valuable.” 

Co-creating inclusive solutions for an inclusive Vitoria-Gasteiz 

The first of these pilots, Citizens’ Inclusive and Accessible Urban Mobility Solutions (UMCASE), focused on identifying the mobility needs of vulnerable transport users through active and participatory methods. By working directly with older citizens in co-creation activities, the pilot offered valuable insights and highlighted the importance of building trust in order to bridge digital gaps.  

The project resulted in an online portal, a methodology, and an implementation guide that are all available to support other cities that want to make mobility more inclusive. By working with the target group, older citizens who might be less digitally-literate, the project aimed to that these users will not be left behind as cities embrace new forms and technologies within urban mobility.  

Unlocking the potential of startups in cities 

Escudero views the city’s involvement in innovation pilots like these as an opportunity to attract startups with potential solutions to the city’s local challenges. In the context of the climate crisis these solutions are increasingly urgent as the transport sector alone contributes nearly one third of the city’s total emissions. 

“Mobility offers opportunities not only for mitigation, but also for adaptation to climate change. That’s why we are combining both approaches,” Escudero reported. 

Despite its walkable historic city centre, the city is still heavily car oriented. “Everything works around cars, even in a city that has a huge opportunity like Vitoria to be enjoyed without a car. Nowadays we have nearly 75% of the public space devoted to private cars, whether it’s roads or parking places,” Escudero noted. To help reduce the domination of private cars, especially in terms of unnecessary solo use, the city looked to carpooling for a solution.  

In 2023, the city launched a pilot with startup Karos Mobility through EIT Urban Mobility’s SME Market Expansion Call. The intelligent app matches drivers and passengers with similar routes, reducing the need for private vehicle use, as well as social isolation.  

“Karos Mobility had expected 300 carpools a week by the end of the pilot, but this milestone was achieved in the pilot’s first month. And, by the end of the pilot the figures were four times higher than expected,” Escudero highlighted. The solution was so successful that the pilot period was extended. A third phase is running until the end of August 2025 and an open tender for a fourth phase is expected to follow.  

“We are supporting the adoption of these schemes as alternatives to owning a car, or even a second or third vehicle, as a first step towards a less car-centric city,” Escudero said.  

Improving connectivity outside of Vitoria-Gasteiz

To further provide alternative transport options, the city’s DIGITAL BUS project, piloted under EIT Urban Mobility’s Main Innovation Call, sought to improve access to public transport in lower density areas. The on-demand bus platform focused on underserved peri-urban and rural areas and included safety improvements like increasing the number of stops on night bus routes.   

By bringing the benefits of digitalisation to smaller transport operators, the project enhanced information-sharing, accessibility and safety for passengers, and contributed to economic development and social equity in areas otherwise lacking mobility options. The successful pilot concluded in 2023 and the service was maintained by Barcelona-based startup Nemi throughout 2024. Since January 2025, the service has been running under a contract with local public transport operator TUVISA.  

Lighting the way to safer streets 

The city’s investment in mobility innovation has also focused on mitigating hazards as pedestrians, scooters, and bicycles increasingly share urban space. The SAFELIGHT pilot, launched in Vitoria-Gasteiz in early 2025, addresses poor lighting in high-risk areas like pedestrian crossings.  

Using a computer vision-based ‘Autonomous Inspector,’ the system automatically detects inadequate lighting and suggests efficient improvements to reduce risks. The project is expected to demonstrate how automated detection can outperform manual methods, while bringing about concrete safety improvements in transport infrastructure. 

Data-driven transport planning  

Other exciting data-driven mobility projects are also underway in the city. The URBANITE project, another pilot under EIT Urban Mobility’s Main Innovation Call, wants to help small and medium-sized cities harness the benefits of AI-driven data analysis for optimising urban transport planning. Instead of relying on time-consuming and expensive manual passenger surveying, URBANITE’s Asistobe solution instead draws on GPS, mobile networks, and passenger data to model passenger movements, from taking the bus, to switching to trams or trains, or hopping on and off bicycles. 

Vitoria-Gasteiz’s participation in projects like these will soon be a case study for READJUST, a Horizon-funded project addressing inequalities that may arise during Europe’s Green Deal transition. 

Reclaiming space for citizens 

Through these projects, Vitoria-Gasteiz is showing how embracing innovative solutions through partnerships can not only provide specific solutions to local challenges, but also provide benefits to residents and society as a whole. 

“We have so much space dedicated to private car use, and it’s a pity not to be able to use such space to improve the green infrastructure in the city. To provide a more comfortable space for people to walk, to ride a bike, to enjoy and stay in the public space,” Escudero said, “Every city has challenges. My recommendation is: try to get involved in these kinds of initiatives.”