Inviting people to walk, cycle, and take public transport in Riga

Mobility as a key to a better everyday life

Riga is grappling with pressing urban challenges: a declining and aging population, a sprawling city structure driving residents to the suburbs, severe congestion from car dependency, and insufficient high-capacity road connections. Gehl’s vision for Riga focuses on a mobility system that delivers access to where people want to go, emphasizing that mobility is about much more than just getting from A to B. It’s about enhancing the quality of life of people.

Central to the vision are five key moves: prioritizing pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, bolstering public transport as the backbone of the city’s mobility network, concentrating urban development to curb sprawl, ensuring the creation of high-quality public spaces, and teaming up with educational and cultural institutions as key partners for future development. The vision points to a future where the elderly can easily meet and move around. People feel less lonely, health improves, and the city offers a great balance between work and leisure, attracting more talented people every year.

The Mobility Vision concludes with key metrics for success to set the direction for Riga’s mobility plan in the years to come. It is accompanied by a detailed Action Plan that lists the numerous initiatives required to realize the vision. The Action Plan was developed by a Riga-based consultant in close collaboration with Gehl. Together, the Mobility Vision and Action Plan mark significant strides toward a more sustainable, vibrant, and livable Riga by 2050.