"We are convinced of the need to transform the current reality of the city from the perspective of sustainability to create the Iruñea of tomorrow. And we want to do it with the whole of the citizenship". This was stated at the University of Navarra by the Mayor of Pamplona, Joseba Asirón, durin g the opening of the I congress of mobility Vertical Urban, organized by the academic center in partnership with the City Council.

The mayor referred to the sustainable mobility as one of the most important challenges facing cities in the 21st century. "This change of urban planning paradigm, which bets on more friendly formulas such as pedestrian, cycling or public transport is an arduous task and not without controversy. From the current municipal government we are committed to undertake this transformation with perseverance, humility and enthusiasm, but above all sharing it with the citizens".

According to him, these infrastructures can be the solution in a city like Pamplona, where the irregular orography with great unevenness can make transit between different areas difficult. "Solving urban barriers inaccessible to pedestrians or bicycles," he added, "makes it possible to improve the viability conditions of citizens, and to open new routes that make it possible to communicate the city.

In this sense, he mentioned the case of Mendillorri. "Despite being a relatively new neighborhood, it also offers mobility problems linked to accessibility. In this case, a study will be carried out for the first time prior to the implementation of the elevator, which will count on neighborhood participation and which we want to be available before the end of the year".

Also speaking at the inauguration of the congress was President, Alfonso Sánchez-Tabernero, who stated that topic of the mobility Vertical Urban influences people's quality of life and sustainability. "It has to do with generosity, with responsibility... with the world we leave to future generations."

Pamplona, sixth city with the highest issue of vertical mobility infrastructure.

For his part, Juan José Pons, professor of the Geography department of the School of Philosophy and Letters and member of the organizing committee , assured that the vertical urban mobility has the capacity to increase the flows of pedestrians and cyclists, and also influences transport; regenerates degraded areas; boosts trade and other services; as well as tourism. Likewise, he stressed its importance for many social groups, "such as the disabled or the elderly".

The professor has led a study in which it is determined that Pamplona is the sixth Spanish city with the highest issue of vertical mobility infrastructures implemented since the beginning of the twentieth century. The project of research, which has been developed over the last two years, has identified and geo-referenced more than 400 infrastructures located in Spain, including elevators, escalators and escalators, funiculars and cable cars, among others.

Pamplona ranks sixth in the ranking, with nine Infrastructures of mobility Vertical Urban (IMUV), 2.2% of the total, below Barcelona (72 infrastructures), Bilbao (29), Eibar (27), Santa Coloma de Gramanet (18) and Donostia-San Sebastián (18). Thus, Navarre is placed together with Andalusia in third place among the autonomous communities with the most vertical urban mobility elements, with 2.6% of the total.

The first congress of mobility Vertical Urban is aimed primarily at experts in urban mobility , architects, urban planners and engineers as well as neighborhood associations and private citizens. Among other experts participating in the meeting are Josu Benaito Villagarcía, head of the Technical Section of mobility of the City Council of Donostia-San Sebastián; Concha Fernández Ordoyo, architect of the Agency for the Integral Revitalization of the Historic City of Vitoria-Gasteiz; and Joan Manel González Durán, architect of the City Council of Santa Coloma de Gramenet.