The paper addresses the challenges that Bulgarian cities of today face in developing
strategic planning instruments for sustainable mobility. Large Bulgarian cities have
been developing integrated urban transport projects (IUTP) since the previous programming
period (2007–2013); the plans should be upgraded during the current programming period
(2014–2020). The sustainable urban mobility plans (SUMP), developed as strategic instruments
of EU urban policy, have been already acknowledged by many cities in the country as
part of the overall strategic development framework. Yet, the efforts of local authorities
in taking action for mobility improvement have in some cases faced lack of awareness
on urgent local imperatives and contradictory views among different stakeholders on
the way to overcome difficulties. The analysis undertaken by the authors aims to outline:
(a) the effectiveness of the policy measures already introduced in the country; (b)
the opportunities for a more effective implementation of EU urban policy instruments;
and (c) the degree to which local public authorities appreciate citizens’ involvement
in the process as an important success factor. Conclusions are drawn about the importance
of lessons learned on both sides – by Bulgarian urban authorities and experts, in
developing current mobility development framework; and by EU policies in supportively
addressing the spatial, economic and socio–cultural context of urban mobility policy
implementation in Bulgaria.
