Netherlands
Amsterdam
UMR Index Rank
#5
(-3)
Score: 66%
Sustainable Mobility
#3
(-1)
Score: 75.5%
Public Transit
#20
(-8)
Score: 58.1%
Technology Adoption
#9
Score: 56.6%
| Population | 1.5 million |
| Surface area (km2) | 487 |
| Population-density (people/km2) | 2,996 |
| GDP per capita ($) | 77,043 |
UMR Index Rank
#5
(-3)
Score: 66%
Sustainable Mobility
#3
(-1)
Score: 75.5%
Public Transit
#20
(-8)
Score: 58.1%
Technology Adoption
#9
Score: 56.6%
What Amsterdam Does Well In Urban Mobility
Amsterdam ranks fifth in this edition the Urban Mobility Readiness Index and comes in third in the Sustainable Mobility sub-index.
The city is known as the cycling capital of the world, with an impressive infrastructure of dedicated bike routes and storage facilities. Amsterdam aims for cycling to account for 35% of all trips made in the city by 2030 by building more lanes and parking for bicycles. In January 2023, Amsterdam unveiled two underwater garages, including one beneath the IJ river next to the city’s main railway station that can house 7,000 bicycles. Amsterdam encourages multimodality by offering up to 24 hours of free bicycle parking in garages around the station. Plans to construct another parking garage for 9,000 bikes are underway. The city is also investing in innovative bike safety initiatives, including using virtual reality glasses to teach traffic rules to students.
Amsterdam promotes electric vehicle usage and has become a global leader in charging station density as it aims to eliminate all fossil- fuel transportation by 2030. By the end of the decade, the Dutch city plans to have more than 80,000 charging points — up from 9,600 in 2020.
Urban Mobility Readiness Index, Sustainable Mobility, Public Transit, and Technology Adoption scores
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley
Challenges And Opportunities For Amsterdam’s Transportation System
Despite its high overall ranking, Amsterdam underperforms in public transit use. Cycling’s popularity and low station density helps explain the lack of public transit ridership, especially among elderly and disabled commuters. However, new metro and tram routes are planned, along with stations that will be built with accessibility in mind. This includes lifts, ramps, and wide fare gates that enable easier wheelchair access.
Amsterdam can improve its enforcement of transport safety rules, an area in which the city ranks below the global average. In 2024 the Dutch city launched its Road Safety Implementation Plan, which limits the speed limit to 30 kilometers per hour on 80% of city-center streets. It also includes educational measures to limit risky behavior and outlines plans to increase the amount of space available for vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists. These initiatives represent an opportunity for Amsterdam to do better in traffic safety.
Dimensions of the Urban Mobility Readiness Index score
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley
How Amsterdam Can Improve Its Urban Mobility Performance
Amsterdam can make its streets even more friendly for walkers by increasing the already high number of car-free zones. The city’s plans for removing parked bicycles from walkways and providing more underground parking is a step in the right direction. These investments also may help increase the pedestrian modal share and improve road safety.
Amsterdam’s public transit network operates 19 hours a day. Should the city want to improve its metro or tram offerings and increase utilization, it can extend operating hours. Some cities, like Copenhagen, offer mass transit services 24 hours a day. Moving in that direction would require additional train maintenance, additional drivers, and/or greater automation.
Urban Mobility Readiness Index relative ranking evolution (2020-2024)
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley