Future of Urban Transport – Can Yerevan Be Part of It?

A bustling mobility hub designed for efficient urban transportation, featuring facilities for bike-sharing, e-car sharing, ride-sharing, car rental, and various public transport connections.

The future of urban transport is being shaped by the rise of mobility hubs—dynamic centres that seamlessly integrate public transit, shared mobility, and active transportation options into a single, accessible location. These hubs are becoming the heart of transformative change in cities worldwide, making travel more sustainable, convenient, and people-centred. As policymakers and city planners in Yerevan embark on a new phase of transport reform, the question arises: can Yerevan join the growing list of cities embracing the mobility hub revolution?

What Are Mobility Hubs?

Mobility hubs are transit-oriented locations where multiple transport options converge. Commuters can switch easily between buses, metro, trams, bicycle sharing, ride-hailing, and pedestrian pathways—often with real-time travel information and comfortable public amenities. Typical features include:

• Modern public transportation stops.

• Shared mobility services (car sharing, e-scooters, bike rentals).

• Secure bicycle and EV parking.

• Shelters, information displays, and retail options.

• Universal accessibility and safety features.

Why Cities Are Building Mobility Hubs

Around the globe, mobility hubs are helping cities confront chronic issues like congestion, pollution, and urban sprawl. These hubs:

• Make public transit more appealing and efficient.

• Support "first mile/last mile" connectivity.

• Reduce dependence on private cars and lower emissions.

• Revitalize neighbourhoods and support local commerce.

• Create more inclusive, accessible public spaces.

Where Yerevan Stands After 2025 Reforms

Yerevan’s public transport system has undergone significant changes in recent years. The city has modernized its metro, renewed trolleybus and bus fleets, and has launched a unified cashless ticketing system. Accessibility has increased, with new buses equipped for people with disabilities, and the replacement of outdated minibuses (“marshrutkas”) with larger, more modern vehicles. Dedicated bus lanes are being rolled out across the city, and digital timetables are being installed for real-time passenger information.

What’s Missing? The Mobility Hub Approach

While Yerevan has made strides in transit modernisation and digitalisation, the integration of transportation with urban development remains limited. Mobility hubs go beyond mere infrastructure—they require coordinated urban planning and service partnerships. Key steps that Yerevan could take include:

• Developing key interchanges—linking metro, bus, bike share, and ride-hailing—at central and suburban nodes.

• Designing inviting, inclusive public spaces at transport interchanges to encourage active and shared mobility.

• Collaborating with private operators and tech partners to offer seamless digital services.

• Piloting micro-mobility services and last-mile solutions

at main hubs.

• Involving communities and local businesses in placemaking at mobility centres.

Can Yerevan Be Part of the Future?

Yerevan possesses core ingredients: a modernising transit fleet, digital ticketing, and growing public recognition of the need for sustainable mobility. To become a model for urban mobility in the South Caucasus, the city should take inspiration from leading mobility hub projects in Europe and tailor the approach to local realities:

• Prioritise accessibility, universal design, and safety at all interchange points.

• Strengthen public-private cooperation for shared mobility, technology, and service innovation.

• Make space for bikes, EV charging, and e-mobility at key nodes.

• Focus on placemaking to turn hubs into attractive, functional community spaces.

• Ensure continuous feedback from residents and adapt plans to changing needs.

Yerevan’s journey toward becoming a mobility hub city is just beginning. With bold vision, strategic investment, and collaboration, the Armenian capital can take its place in the future of urban transport—and deliver real benefits for all who live, work, and travel in the city.