CIVITAS is one of the flagship programmes helping the European Commission achieve its ambitious mobility and transport goals, and in turn those in the European Green Deal. It does this by acting as a network of cities, for cities, dedicated to sustainable urban mobility. Through peer exchange, networking and training, CIVITAS fosters political commitment and boosts collective expertise, equipping cities to put mobility at the centre of decarbonisation. Since its launch in 2002, CIVITAS has advanced research and innovation in sustainable urban mobility and enabled local authorities to develop, test and roll out measures via a range of projects.

As the current Coordination and Support Action for the CIVITAS Initiative, ELEVATE primarily engages in support activities to boost the Europe-wide impact of CIVITAS projects on sustainable urban mobility policy and assist the CIVITAS National Networks (CIVINETs). Its main objectives are to:

• Develop the CIVITAS knowledge base and fast tracking the transfer of new knowledge.
• Enrich the current CIVITAS generation and feeding future EU initiatives and CIVITAS-type actions.
• Build a European mobility community able to navigate transition.
• Represent CIVITAS on the international stage.

ELEVATE also has responsibility for the CIVITAS Secretariat.

FastTrack works with 24 urban and peri-urban areas to help them accelerate (or ‘fast track’) their development of sustainable mobility innovations. This work revolves around four topical clusters, each lead an Ambassador City. What is innovative in one local area may be well-established in another. That is no problem for FastTrack! Through knowledge-sharing, capacity-building events, and various research methods, the project will meet cities where they are, and support them all to fast track their transition to sustainable transport. By the end of the project, each of the 24 FastTrack Areas will have developed sustainable mobility deployment plans.

Thirteen cities are collaborating on over 60 measures across 23 different types of solutions, which are designed to make cycling a more attractive everyday mode of transport.

The Handshake project focuses on all stages of delivery, from planning through to implementation and the monitoring of success. These are aided by governance arrangements that help manage a transition towards a greater quality of life through increased levels of cycling.