Ruta N will strengthen Medellin’s inclusive mobility

Ruta N Medellín, IASP member and the Toyota Mobility Foundation (TMF), an international nonprofit created by the Toyota Group, have announced the names of the five projects that will develop the solutions to improve mobility in Medellin and ensure safer, autonomous, and accessible travel. 

The aim of the initiative was to attract technology-based companies, social organizations, urban collectives, universities, and other stakeholders with experience in mobility, accessibility, and human-centered design. A total of 20 proposals were received, from countries such as Chile, Brazil, United States, Greece, Spain, and Colombia. 

“The cities that lead tomorrow understand that technology improves people’s quality of life. That is why, at Ruta N, we promote a GovTech vision that places government at the service of citizens. In that purpose, the five projects, selected together with Toyota Mobility Foundation, represent a key step toward building mobility solutions for everyone, responding to the realities of territories and strengthening the autonomy of people with reduced mobility”, as Carolina Londoño, Executive Director of Ruta N stated. 

The selected proposals will enter a pilot phase later this year, building on demonstrated experience and proven results from similar projects previously implemented in the region. 

The initiative was launched in response to the need to enable more independent mobility across the city of Medellín, prompting a broader exploration of how targeted, small-scale infrastructure improvements can deliver meaningful impact. 

The five selected projects address a range of distinct mobility challenges. One focuses on ensuring inclusive travel by improving the safety of pedestrians who use assistive devices, another targets barrier-free access to public transport, while a third seeks to enable people with mobility limitations or other disabilities to board, travel and exit public transport in a safe, efficient and reliable way. 

Together, the selected initiatives reflect the region’s growing innovation capacity and the importance of responding to clearly identified local needs. Developing more autonomous and inclusive mobility solutions requires close collaboration among public institutions, innovators and community stakeholders. This strategy includes an investment of up to €250,000 and will initially focus on improving conditions in the two areas of Medellin with the highest proportion of residents with physical disabilities.