Quito
UMR Index
Score: 32.8%
Sustainable Mobility
Score: 40.4%
Public Transit
Score: 39.9%
| Population | 2.4 million |
| Surface area (km2) | 536 |
| Population-density (people/km2) | 4,430 |
| GDP per capita ($) | 9,701 |
What Quito Does Well in Urban Mobility
Ecuador’s capital has a strong and affordable multimodal public transit system. The city expects to open its first metro line in 2024 and is modernizing its trolleybus network and renovating two major roads, both reportedly due to be completed in 2024.
Quito is home to one of the highest public transit ridership levels, both regionally and globally, with the majority of trips taken via transit. City leadership is reportedly exploring opportunities to expand the metro system to accommodate the high demand.
Urban Mobility Readiness Index, Sustainable Mobility and Public Transit scores
Challenges and Opportunities for Quito’s Transportation System
Quito lacks the necessary cycling infrastructure, such as bike lanes and car-free zones, for residents to utilize cycling as a popular mobility mode. To encourage cycling, the city implemented a free bike-sharing service, BiciQ, allowing residents to cycle throughout the capital more easily.
Ecuador's busiest airport, Mariscal Sucre, has few international passenger flights. The airport has expanded its terminal and cargo facilities in recent years and attracted new airlines, with Mexico’s Viva Aerobus opening a Quito-Cancun route in 2023.
Dimensions of the Urban Mobility Readiness Index score
How Quito Can Improve Its Public Transportation and Sustainable Mobility
Quito lags behind many of its peers with few car-free zones throughout the city. Such zones support pedestrian and cyclist safety by removing cars from specific areas. The city can expand its car-free zones to cover larger areas and reduce traffic, promoting safety and accessibility. The city currently closes some streets for cyclists, skateboarders, and pedestrians each week on Sunday Cycle (Ciclopaseo).
Quito has yet to embrace cycling like many of its regional peers. To close the gap to a city like Buenos Aires, where cycling’s share of travel is approximately seven times that of Quito, the city could focus on improving cycling infrastructure by building dedicated bike lanes on popular roadways. Previously mentioned efforts including the BiciQ are going in the right direction, but more can be done to accelerate cycling adoption.