UVAR4US – Using Urban Vehicle Access Regulations for Reshaping Urban Space
The UVAR4US project, coordinated by RiSE (Research Institutes of Sweden) with TRT among its partners, is funded under the Driving Urban Transitions (DUT) partnership within the Horizon Europe programme.
The project explores how Urban Vehicle Access Regulations (UVARs) can help create cleaner, more liveable, and people-friendly cities in line with the 15-minute city vision — where daily needs are within a short walk or cycle.
UVAR4US studies how access regulations affect mobility, the use of public space, and car dependency. By breaking UVARs down into key “building blocks”, the project identifies how different approaches can be combined to fit local urban contexts and community preferences.
An open knowledge base will share examples of existing UVARs and their impact on mobility and urban life. A participation framework will highlight how citizen involvement and transparent decision-making contribute to successful policies. These resources will feed into the UVAR4US Toolkit — a practical set of tools to help cities design and evaluate UVAR strategies that support the 15-minute City model.
Four Living Lab cities, each preparing to implement new access regulations, will test and refine the project’s tools and methods in real-life conditions.
Why it matters
Cities across Europe struggle with congestion, air pollution, and limited public space. UVAR4US aims to show how smarter vehicle access management can reduce car dependency, encourage walking, cycling, and public transport, and improve overall urban quality of life.
Participating countries
Belgium, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, Sweden.
Funded project partners
Cluster Viooikonomias Kai Perivallontos Dytikis Makedonias, Helsingborgs kommun, Living Prospects Ypiresies Anaptyxis & Perivallontos Etaireia Periorismenis Efthynis, Rupprecht Consult-forschung & Beratung GmbH, TRT Trasporti E Territorio Srl, Universiteit Gent