The importance of open data in the mobility sector: Enabling smarter
and more efficient transport systems
The mobility sector is undergoing a rapid digital transformation, with
open data playing a crucial role in enhancing transport efficiency,
sustainability, and accessibility. By making real-time traffic data,
public transport schedules, and infrastructure information openly
available, open data enables smarter mobility solutions that benefit
both citizens and businesses across Europe. From reducing congestion
to improving multimodal transport planning, data-driven insights are
reshaping how people and goods move.

To foster innovation in the mobility sector, the European Commission
has introduced several initiatives that promote open data sharing. The
EU’s Smart and Sustainable Mobility Strategy
[https://transport.ec.europa.eu/transport-themes/eu-mobility-transport-achievements-2019-2024/sustainable-smart-mobility_en]
aims to create an integrated and intelligent transport system, where
data exchange between public and private stakeholders improves traffic
management, public transport accessibility, and green mobility
solutions. Furthermore, the EU Open Data Directive
[https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2019/1024/oj] ensures that valuable
datasets, including geospatial and transport-related information, are
freely available to fuel new digital services.

Several mobility data spaces are contributing to these efforts.
The Mobility Data Space [https://mobility-dataspace.eu/], provides a
secure and standardised environment for sharing mobility-related
datasets. This initiative facilitates real-time traffic monitoring,
supports the development of AI-driven transport solutions, and
enhances urban planning by providing detailed mobility insights.
Similarly, projects like DATEX II [https://datex2.eu/], the European
standard for road traffic data exchange, help ensure interoperability
between different transport systems. By leveraging open data,
European cities are developing sustainable and smart mobility
[https://transport.ec.europa.eu/transport-themes/eu-mobility-transport-achievements-2019-2024/sustainable-smart-mobility_en]
solutions, such as real-time public transport updates, digital
ticketing systems, and dynamic traffic management tools. These
innovations contribute to reducing CO₂ emissions, enhancing commuter
experiences, and optimising logistics networks.

Whether you are a policymaker, transport operator, or researcher, the
opportunities provided by open mobility data are extensive.
Explore thousands of mobility-related datasets
[https://data.europa.eu/data/datasets?locale=en&minScoring=0&categories=TRAN&page=1] on data.europa.eu
[https://data.europa.eu/en] and help shape the future of
transportation in Europe.

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Publication Date/Time
2025-04-04T08:00:00+00:00
How the European Commission is supporting innovation in mobility with
open data