United Kingdom
London
UMR Index Rank
#10
(+1)
Score: 65%
Sustainable Mobility
#16
(-4)
Score: 60.4%
Public Transit
#16
(-3)
Score: 60.5%
Technology Adoption
#7
Score: 58.6%
| Population | 10.5 million |
| Surface area (km2) | 1,738 |
| Population-density (people/km2) | 6,044 |
| GDP per capita ($) | 85,655 |
UMR Index Rank
#10
(+1)
Score: 65%
Sustainable Mobility
#16
(-4)
Score: 60.4%
Public Transit
#16
(-3)
Score: 60.5%
Technology Adoption
#7
Score: 58.6%
What London Does Well In Urban Mobility
London ranks 10th in the Urban Mobility Readiness Index thanks to a diverse public transit system that includes the Underground metro, light and heavy rail, trams, and buses. London is investing in improvements to the public transport network, such as extending lines and adding stations. The Elizabeth line opened in 2022 and has since boosted public transit ridership, with an average of 700,000 journeys made on the line every weekday. Plans also are underway to better connect residents in outer London to public transit offerings, including new bus lanes and more frequent light rail service.
The combination of modest car ownership, congestion pricing, and an expansion of the city’s Ultra Low Emission Zone, in which drivers who use internal combustion engine vehicles are charged, has improved London’s air quality. Planned infrastructure expansions aim to increase trips made by walking, cycling, or public transport to 80% from about 40% by 2041, which will further improve air quality.
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 London’s Transportation System
Although London has good cycling infrastructure, the overall density remains limited due to its large surface area. There is significant potential to boost cycling, given that research from the Transport for London authority shows that around 20% of Londoners who are not already cycling are open to it. In July 2023 the city opened 10 new low- traffic cycleways — the most that London’s transport authority has ever opened at once. The expansion effort aims to have 40% of Londoners living within 400 meters of a cycling route by 2030, up from 22% in 2022.
London’s public transit authorities have been slow to implement autonomous trains in the Underground network. Rolling out autonomous trains requires significant capital expenditure and the mayor confirmed in 2022 that it was not a current priority.
Dimensions of the Urban Mobility Readiness Index score
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley
How London Can Improve Its Urban Mobility Performance
Compared to top-performing cities, London’s electric vehicle (EV) market share in sales and its charging station density can be improved. The city already has a variety of incentives for purchasing EVs, including tax benefits and exemptions for EVs from the congestion charge until the end of 2025. Some London boroughs also offer free or reduced-charge parking for EVs. Additional initiatives can help, such as expanding free parking to more locations. While the city has a charging infrastructure strategy, it can accelerate its implementation. This is especially important given that the city expects to need between 40,000 to 60,000 charging points by 2030.
While London is home to a strong public transit system, some residents still walk long distances to reach stations. To improve station density and encourage ridership, the city can add more stops along bus routes — a cost-effective improvement that would benefit residents. Adding new bus lines is another relatively simple solution to reach more areas of the city. Adding new Underground stations will be essential for expanding public transit offerings, but this effort will be a time-intensive and expensive undertaking. The Elizabeth line, for example, took 11 years and cost approximately £19 billion ($25 billion) to construct.
Urban Mobility Readiness Index relative ranking evolution (2020-2024)
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley