liikuvus

Liikuvus is a term used in urban planning and transportation to describe the capacity and opportunity for people and goods to move across space and time. It encompasses how readily individuals can reach education, work, services, and social activities, as well as how efficiently goods can be transported.

Etymology: derived from the Estonian verb liikuma "to move" with the abstract noun suffix -vus; used to refer to movement potential in communities and regions.

Dimensions: physical mobility (infrastructure, vehicles, networks), economic and social mobility (the ability to access jobs, education, healthcare), and environmental and technological mobility (sustainability, digital platforms, and new mobility services).

Measurement: indicators include travel time, travel cost, reliability, mode share, accessibility indices, and network resilience. Data sources include travel surveys, traffic sensors, and mobile data.

Policy and planning: Liikuvus is central to sustainable urban development, integrating land use with transport planning to reduce car dependency, promote walking, cycling, and public transit, and ensure affordable mobility for all. Emerging concepts include multimodal networks and mobility as a service (MaaS).

Future challenges: growing urban demand, climate goals, equity, data privacy, and the need for resilient systems during disruptions. Balancing efficiency with environmental and social objectives remains a core concern.