Mobility in Urban Planning and Property Development

By Robert J. Martin

What are the roles property developers, municipalities and urban developers can take on in facilitating for sustainable mobility?

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Building sustainable mobility culture from the first tenant moving in.

The Facilitator

Autonomous tech is blurring traditional boundaries. Vehicle producers are becoming operators. Operators are stepping into tech procurement. Public authorities are taking on the responsibility of orchestrating whole ecosystems — not just fund routes or sign contracts.

It’s not just “who does what” that’s changing. It’s “who’s responsible when something goes wrong,” “who controls the data,” and “who’s accountable for performance.” That means regulation, roles, and incentives all need a reboot.

The orchestrator

Most tenders today are still built for a world of fixed assets, long depreciation cycles, and predictable tech. But autonomy development moves fast — updates are digital, platforms are modular, and business models are still evolving.

Cities that want to play in this space need new procurement tools: outcome-based contracts, room for iteration, and the ability to test and scale in real-world settings without spending two years writing a spec.

The operator

In Norway, Sweden, and beyond, operators are facing a growing staffing crisis. Bus drivers are aging out, and new ones aren’t coming in fast enough — especially in low-margin regions and irregular shifts.

Autonomy won’t replace drivers everywhere, but it can help relieve pressure in the least attractive time slots and geographies — think late-night loops, rural connectors, or campus circulators. Used well, it’s a release valve, not a replacement plan.

The Facilitator

Autonomous tech is blurring traditional boundaries. Vehicle producers are becoming operators. Operators are stepping into tech procurement. Public authorities are taking on the responsibility of orchestrating whole ecosystems — not just fund routes or sign contracts.

It’s not just “who does what” that’s changing. It’s “who’s responsible when something goes wrong,” “who controls the data,” and “who’s accountable for performance.” That means regulation, roles, and incentives all need a reboot.

The orchestrator

Most tenders today are still built for a world of fixed assets, long depreciation cycles, and predictable tech. But autonomy development moves fast — updates are digital, platforms are modular, and business models are still evolving.

Cities that want to play in this space need new procurement tools: outcome-based contracts, room for iteration, and the ability to test and scale in real-world settings without spending two years writing a spec.

The operator

In Norway, Sweden, and beyond, operators are facing a growing staffing crisis. Bus drivers are aging out, and new ones aren’t coming in fast enough — especially in low-margin regions and irregular shifts.

Autonomy won’t replace drivers everywhere, but it can help relieve pressure in the least attractive time slots and geographies — think late-night loops, rural connectors, or campus circulators. Used well, it’s a release valve, not a replacement plan.

Organising for a multioperator mobility hub around a train station.

Operator engagement

Autonomy can absolutely play a role in public transport, but only if we properly contextualise the conversation.

This isn’t about proving that driverless tech works. It already does. The question is whether it works for us — for Europe’s cities, for its climate goals, and for the public good.

That means integration over innovation. Public value over private hype. And outcomes that serve not just efficiency, but equity and access.

We don’t need more tech demos. We need public transport systems that are more adaptable, more inclusive, and more aligned with how people actually live. Autonomous vehicles can help — but only if we design for group transport, shared infrastructure, and the long game.

If autonomy is going to stick — not just pilot — we need to see movement on a few key fronts:

  • Clearer regulation that defines roles, responsibilities, and liabilities

  • Procurement reform that supports modular, evolving services — not just hardware buys

  • Fleet orchestration tools that enable true multimodal, multi-purpose vehicles

  • Cross-sector pilots that test real outcomes, not just tech

  • Shared standards to integrate data, payments, and systems seamlessly

Because this isn’t about testing cool vehicles. It’s about rebuilding public transport to be smarter, leaner, and more responsive to how cities — and people — actually move.

Operator engagement

Autonomy can absolutely play a role in public transport, but only if we properly contextualise the conversation.

This isn’t about proving that driverless tech works. It already does. The question is whether it works for us — for Europe’s cities, for its climate goals, and for the public good.

That means integration over innovation. Public value over private hype. And outcomes that serve not just efficiency, but equity and access.

We don’t need more tech demos. We need public transport systems that are more adaptable, more inclusive, and more aligned with how people actually live. Autonomous vehicles can help — but only if we design for group transport, shared infrastructure, and the long game.

If autonomy is going to stick — not just pilot — we need to see movement on a few key fronts:

  • Clearer regulation that defines roles, responsibilities, and liabilities

  • Procurement reform that supports modular, evolving services — not just hardware buys

  • Fleet orchestration tools that enable true multimodal, multi-purpose vehicles

  • Cross-sector pilots that test real outcomes, not just tech

  • Shared standards to integrate data, payments, and systems seamlessly

Because this isn’t about testing cool vehicles. It’s about rebuilding public transport to be smarter, leaner, and more responsive to how cities — and people — actually move.

Want to learn more about the intersection of mobility and urban planning?

Robert is an Australian architect and PhD in urban mobility, based in Copenhagen. At Beta Mobility, he shapes strategies for cities and developers, drawing on global experience to design sustainable, livable transport systems.

Robert J. Martin

Partner

robert@betamobility.com

+47 462 47 747