The 17th edition of the European ITS Congress 2026, taking place in Istanbul on 27-29 April and organised by ERTICO – ITS Europe, has once again brought together the full mobility ecosystem – from public authorities and policymakers to industry leaders and researchers.

A new feature this year were the co-created sessions (8 in total), which go beyond individual projects to focus on strategic exchange, fostering partnerships, engaging new audiences, and shaping future collaboration, innovation, and policy.

The European Passengers’ Federation hosted a co-created session focused on inclusion and accessibility as core design principles. Inclusive mobility is not about designing for “others”, but for everyone – across abilities, ages, and real-life conditions.

We moderated and introduced the session, highlighting the importance of Universal Design and sharing insights from the InclusiveSpaces project, which promotes a design-for-all approach to creating accessible, inclusive, and climate-adaptive urban environments. Following the introduction, the panel discussion focused on key themes, including: exclusion in public space and transport; inclusive participation and co-creation; and the role of ITS and AI in enhancing accessibility.

📅 29 April, 11:45-12:45 Inclusive by Design: Applying Universal Design Principles in Transport and ITS. Room ÜSKÜDAR 1

🎤Speakers:
✅ Delphine Grandsart, Senior Researcher, European Passengers’​ Federation (Moderator)
✅ Esen Köse, Sustainable Innovation and Project Manager, Mpact
✅ Jolien Vandoorne, Project Officer, International Federation of Pedestrians
✅ Emilio Robotti, Deputy Mayor, Comune di Genova

👉 EPF’s presentation is available here