Topic outline

  • Course overview

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    This course ran with moderation in spring 2017 as part of the EU funded FLOW project. If you have any questions about this course or about the FLOW project, please contact Bonnie Fenton at b.fenton@rupprecht-consult.eu.

    Unit one introduces you to this learning platform, the course and your moderators. Unit two talks about the current state with regard to congestion in urban settings, the FLOW approach, why a change is needed and which direction it needs to go. Unit three introduces several walking and cycling measures that have been demonstrated to reduce (or at least not increase) congestion in European cities and beyond. Unit four describes to conceptual framework that underpins FLOW and how it can support decision making around congestion reduction. Unit five covers FLOW’s multimodal definition of congestion and what that implies in practice (i.e. how to operationalise the definition) as well as determining a congestion threshold for your city. Unit six summarises and wraps up.

    Your course moderators

    Frederic Rudolph is experienced with transportation forecasting procedures and with corresponding software solutions and is also familiar with project appraisal methods such as cost-benefit analysis. He is a project coordinator with the Wuppertal Institute, where he has carried out tasks such as scenario development, baseline development/business as usual development ex ante and ex post and evaluation and monitoring of policies and measures.


    Kristin Tovaas has an interdisciplinary background in sustainability science, communication and system analysis, with a specialisation in sustainable transport and urban development. She works at Rupprecht Consult coordinating projects and researching on sustainable urban mobility.


  • Unit 1: Getting Started

    Unit 1 will get you started with the course. It introduces you to the background and idea of the FLOW project and how you can get the most out of this online platform and this course.

    Module 1.1: Overview of the FLOW e-courses and webinar series. This includes course aims, target audiences and what you will gain from the course.

    Module 1.2: Getting the most out of this course. This module talks about how you can use this course to best develop your own knowledge as well as learn and exchange with your fellow participants.

  • Unit 2: Why FLOW?

    Unit 2 looks at the current context in which we are working and the extent to which walking and cycling are generally incorporated in transport planning. It then addresses the paradigm shift that FLOW (and others) see as necessary in order for non-motorised transport to fulfil its potential in addressing issues of urban congestion.

  • Unit 3: The role of walking and cycling in reducing congestion

    Unit 3 illustrates different types of walking and cycling measures. It shows the spatial scope that each measure type usually has, thereby giving a first idea of how each can (positively) influence the performance of the transport network. After a brief introduction, several examples of congestion reducing walking and cycling measures in European cities are presented – including an example from the FLOW city of Munich.

  • Unit 4: The FLOW Conceptual Framework

    A key goal in FLOW is to develop tools that enable decision makers to better understand the transport and socio-economic impacts of walking and cycling measures for cities. This unit explains the context by presenting the conceptual framework that underpins FLOW.

  • Unit 5: Multimodal Transport Network Performance Analysis Methodology

    Unit 5 covers FLOW’s multi-modal definition of congestion – and how that definition is put into play in the real world. It also gives a brief overview of the calculations used in the operationalisation of the definition, the aggregation of the calculations for the different modes of transport and the city-specific identification of a “congestion threshold”.

  • Unit 6: Conclusion

    What have you learned and what else can you learn from the FLOW project?