As the United Nations inaugurates the Decade of Sustainable Transport (2025–2035), Youth for Road Safety (YOURS) presents its official position for the decade ahead: A call for transport systems that honour human dignity, protect life, and expand opportunity for all.Transport defines how people access education, work, healthcare, connection, and possibilities. Yet for millions, mobility remains unsafe, unequal, and unsustainable. As the global transport community steps into this decade, YOURS underscores that sustainable transport will only succeed if it is built through inclusion, collaboration and accountability, where communities shape the solutions that affect their lives, young people help drive decision-making, and every system is designed with safety at its core to ensure that no one is left behind.
“The Decade challenges us to rethink transport systems based on evidence and concrete action, listening to communities, working across sectors, and embedding accountability in every decision. Only by placing safety and communities at the centre can sustainable transport move from ambition to impact,” said Raquel Barrios, Executive Director of YOURS.
Grounded in lived experience and global youth leadership, YOURS outlines a set of non-negotiable priorities that must guide the actions of this new decade, based on the global vision of youth: safety, equity, decarbonization, finance, technology, accessibility, and accountability.
Road Safety at the Foundation
Any system that calls itself sustainable must pass the safety test. Nothing else matters if people keep dying on the way to school or work. Governments must embed the Safe System approach everywhere: designing roads and vehicles that protect people even when mistakes occur, managing speed to prevent crashes from being fatal, and building accountability into every decision. A truly sustainable transport system is one that protects and preserves life.
Equity Begins with Access
Transport must work for everyone, not just those with cars or privilege. Women walking unsafe streets, children crossing chaotic roads, and elders and people with disabilities left out by design; this is the inequality we must end. Universal design must be at the centre of every transportation system to ensure equal access for all, gender- and disability-responsive planning, and regular safety and equity audits. Equity starts when everyone can move safely and affordably. By 2035, cities must invest in and have in place urban and mobility plans that ensure social equity in mobility for all, especially in low- and middle-income countries and rural areas, where most marginalised and disconnected communities are located.
Decarbonise Transport, Decentralise Power
We refuse a future where mobility accelerates the climate crisis. Transport must decarbonise faster, not later, if we are to safeguard health, equity, and the planet’s future. Governments must demonstrate progress in phasing out fossil-fuel vehicles, electrify public transport and two- and three-wheelers, and invest in cycling and walking infrastructure as climate and active mobility solutions. A just transition must protect workers and low-income communities while ensuring that transport contributes its fair share to global climate goals.
Financing that Works for People and Planet
Financial resources should reflect values. If financing continues to flow to car-dependent, fossil-heavy systems, then talk of “sustainability” is meaningless. This Decade must mobilise financial resources guided by proven solutions, global goals and community needs, redirecting investments toward equitable, low-carbon mobility. Every public dollar must be traceable, every project transparent, and every investor accountable. By 2035, government investment must focus on implementing the NDCs, as well as urban and transportation plans, to ensure a return on investment in people, communities, and a healthy environment.
Technology for Safety and Dignity
The future of transport is digital and AI-powered, and that demands a new social contract. Data and information must be accessible so young entrepreneurs can build and refine the tools that will shape tomorrow’s mobility. Governments must also safeguard user data and ensure technology serves the public good. Every digital advancement in transport should increase safety, expand access, and protect the dignity of every traveller. Anything less isn’t progress.
Accessible Systems that Move Everyone
Progress isn’t measured by the speed of cars but by the freedom of people. Cities must set mode-share targets that prioritise walking, cycling, and public transport, and build continuous, safe networks for each. Every person should be able to reach school, work, and healthcare safely without owning a car or risking their life. By 2035, cities must invest in multimodal transportation systems that enhance connections and foster economic growth within their communities, at a price that is accessible to everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic status.
Accountability Through Action
Accountability is what brings promises closer to real progress. Every country must set measurable annual targets for safety, accessibility, and emissions in their nationally determined contributions (NDCs), developed in collaboration with communities and monitored in the public domain. What isn’t transparent cannot be trusted. This decade will be remembered for what it delivers, not what it declares.To achieve these seven priorities, civil society, communities, and youth must be recognised not merely as beneficiaries of change, but as essential allies in shaping it. Lived experiences, local knowledge, and collective power are critical to designing transport systems that are equitable, inclusive, and effective. When youth and communities are treated as co-creators, rather than passive recipients, policies become more grounded, resilient, and responsive. This decade requires a shift from top-down decision-making to collaborative governance, where those most affected by mobility challenges help lead the solutions.Alongside global partners, YOURS commits to driving community-led, evidence-based actions that bring safety and sustainability closer to reality.
A Call to Collective Action!
YOURS invites governments, civil society, youth networks and global partners to work together to build mobility systems that safeguard dignity, protect life, support the planet, and enable a sustainable future for all.Stay tuned for updates as YOURS continues contributing to the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport, and check out our official commitments on the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport website.
El proyecto #JóvenesEnRuta demostró que, cuando las y los jóvenes reciben herramientas reales, acompañamiento técnico y espacios de participación significativa, pueden convertirse en actores clave para mejorar la seguridad vial y en motocicleta en sus comunidades.
La iniciativa, impulsada por YOURS y Autoliv Safety Foundation e implementada junto a Liga Peatonal, con apoyo técnico del Gobierno de Toluca, articuló formación, acción comunitaria y una campaña de sensibilización que fortaleció la conversación sobre seguridad vial en Toluca, el Estado de México y más allá.
Desde el inicio, el proyecto apostó por un enfoque glocal: intervenir localmente, pero pensando en cómo estos aprendizajes pueden informar esfuerzos más amplios en México y más allá. Con el respaldo de instituciones locales, se reclutaron 21 jóvenes de diferentes perfiles, los cuales aceptaron convertirse en Embajadoras y Embajadores de Seguridad en Motocicleta. “Cuando empoderamos a las juventudes con verdaderas herramientas de liderazgo, la conversación cambia. Se evidencia su compromiso a largo plazo y la efectividad de acciones concretas para cambiar la realidad de la seguridad vial “, comentó Raquel Barrios, Directora Ejecutiva de YOURS, destacando el papel clave de los jóvenes participantes.
A lo largo de seis semanas de capacitación híbrida, el equipo de jóvenes aprendió sobre seguridad vial, riesgos específicos de motociclistas, normas de certificación de cascos y metodologías participativas. Esta etapa implicó la consulta comunitaria con 144 personas, identificando en el territorio mexicano preocupaciones, soluciones y patrones de riesgo de primera mano. Para Daniela Sandoval, una de las participantes, este elemento hizo la diferencia: “El programa fue educativo e informativo. “Los ejemplos reales nos mostraron lo que sucede en nuestras calles y pude enseñarlo a mis compañeras, grupos de movilidad y usuarios de motocicleta”.
Conocimiento en práctica
Después de la capacitación, el equipo realizó 15 activaciones comunitarias en alianza con 13 organizaciones locales y tres gobiernos municipales. Estas acciones abarcaron la promoción y el apoyo a certificaciones de motocicleta en Jilotepec, acciones de urbanismo táctico en Texcoco y acciones con niñas y niños en Atlacomulco y El Oro para reconocer riesgos y derechos en el espacio público. Cada acción fue una respuesta a las necesidades identificadas y demostró la habilidad de las y los jóvenes para transformar el conocimiento en acción.
“#JóvenesEnRuta fue un proyecto que empoderó a un grupo de jóvenes y les permitió alzar la voz sobre un tema tan urgente en el Estado de México como la seguridad de motociclistas. Además, les permitió tejer lazos de colaboración entre activistas, funcionarios públicos y técnicos interesados en movilidad sustentable y seguridad vial, que seguirán rindiendo frutos en los próximos años”, dijo Aldo González, secretario general de Liga Peatonal.
No te arriesgues
Como parte de la estrategia glocal del proyecto, #JóvenesEnRuta integró la campaña “No te arriesgues”, implementada con el apoyo de los aliados de comunicación y difusión: Municipio de Jilotepec, Coalición Movilidad Segura, IMU, Motociclistas Unidos CDMX, International Bikers Association, Revista Moto, Mujeres en Motociclismo, entre otros. La campaña, donada por Vital Strategies, el Gobierno de Jalisco y el Gobierno de Guadalajara, promueve cuatro mensajes fundamentales para quienes conducen motocicleta: respetar los límites de velocidad, evitar desviarse entre carriles, circular con un máximo de dos pasajeros y usar siempre un casco certificado y bien abrochado.
La difusión colectiva de la campaña a través de medios de comunicación y redes sociales alcanzó a más de 5,5 millones de personas, reforzando el alcance y la visibilidad del proyecto.
Impacto en cifras
El efecto último de #JóvenesEnRuta se nota en tres niveles: a nivel individual, cada joven fue capacitado con más de 15 horas de formación, mejorando en promedio 5/5 su conocimiento para ponerlo en práctica en acciones comunitarias. En el ámbito comunitario, más de 3.000 personas fueron impactadas directamente por las activaciones y más de 19 organizaciones locales se movilizaron en torno al proyecto. A escala sistémica, cinco gobiernos locales se involucraron, así como la Coalición Movilidad Segura.
El cierre de esta edición #JóvenesEnRuta deja la lección aprendida: cuando las juventudes toman la batuta con información, acompañamiento técnico y respaldo institucional, crean cambios sustentables. Lo que se ha logrado en Toluca y en el Estado de México no sólo crea capacidades locales, sino que ofrece un modelo replicable para otras ciudades que quieran proteger a las personas jóvenes motociclistas y avanzar hacia entornos más seguros, solidarios y humanos.
El proyecto jóvenes en ruta también fue apoyado por otros actores como Céntrico, Alianza Nacional por la Seguridad Vial (ANASEVI), UKAN Consultores y múltiples organizaciones locales en el Estado de México.
ENGLISH VERSION
#YouthOnTrack: the youth power driving motorcycle safety from Toluca, State of Mexico
The #YouthOnTrack project demonstrated that when young people receive practical tools, technical guidance, and meaningful opportunities to participate, they can become key actors in improving road and motorcycle safety within their communities.
The initiative, led by YOURS and the Autoliv Safety Foundation and implemented alongside Liga Peatonal, with technical support from the Government of Toluca, brought together training, community action, and a public awareness campaign that strengthened the conversation around road safety in Toluca, the State of Mexico, and beyond.
From the outset, the project embraced a glocal approach: acting locally while ensuring that the insights gained could inform broader efforts across Mexico and internationally. With strong backing from local institutions, 21 young people from diverse backgrounds were recruited and stepped forward as Motorcycle Safety Ambassadors. “When we equip young people with genuine leadership tools, the conversation shifts. Their long-term commitment becomes visible, and the effectiveness of concrete actions to improve road safety becomes evident,” said Raquel Barrios, Executive Director of YOURS, highlighting the essential role of the young participants.
Over six weeks of blended training, the group learned about road safety, the specific risks faced by motorcyclists, helmet certification standards, and participatory methodologies. This phase also included community consultations with 144 people across the State of Mexico, gathering first-hand concerns, solutions, and risk patterns directly from residents. For participant Daniela Sandoval, this component was decisive: “The programme was educational and informative. Real-life examples showed us what truly happens on our streets, and I was able to share this with classmates, mobility groups, and motorcycle users.”
Knowledge into practice
After completing the training, the group carried out 15 community activations in collaboration with 13 local organisations and three municipal governments. These actions included supporting motorcycle certification processes in Jilotepec, implementing tactical urbanism interventions in Texcoco, and engaging children in Atlacomulco and El Oro to help them identify risks and understand their rights in public spaces. Each action responded to needs identified during the consultations and demonstrated the ability of the young participants to translate knowledge into meaningful change.
“#YouthOnTrack empowered a group of young people and enabled them to raise their voices about an urgent issue in the State of Mexico: motorcycle safety. It also helped them build collaborative ties between activists, public officials, and technical experts working on sustainable mobility and road safety—connections that will continue to bear fruit in the years to come,” said Aldo González, Secretary General of Liga Peatonal.
Don’t Risk It
As part of the project’s glocal strategy, #YouthOnTrack integrated the “Don’t Risk It” campaign, implemented with the support of communication and dissemination partners including the Municipality of Jilotepec, the Safe Mobility Coalition, IMU, Motociclistas Unidos CDMX, the International Bikers Association, Revista Moto, Mujeres en Motociclismo, among others. Originally developed and donated by Vital Strategies, the Government of Jalisco, and the Government of Guadalajara, the campaign promotes four essential messages for motorcyclists: respecting speed limits, avoiding lane-splitting, travelling with no more than two passengers, and always wearing a certified, properly fastened helmet.
Collective dissemination through media outlets and social networks reached more than 5.5 million people, significantly amplifying the project’s visibility and impact.
Impact in numbers
The overall effect of #YouthOnTrack can be observed at three levels. At the individual level, each young participant received more than 15 hours of training, achieving an average knowledge improvement of 5/5 and applying these learnings in community-led actions. At the community level, more than 3,000 people were reached directly through activations, and over 20 local organisations mobilised around the project. At the systemic level, five local governments became involved, as well as the Safe Mobility Coalition.
This edition of #YouthOnTrack leaves a clear lesson: when young people lead with accurate information, technical support, and institutional backing, they drive sustainable change. The achievements in Toluca and the State of Mexico not only build local capacity but also offer a replicable model for other cities seeking to protect young motorcyclists and advance towards safer, more inclusive, and more people-centred environments.
The #YouthOnTrack project was also supported by additional actors such as Céntrico, the National Road Safety Alliance (ANASEVI), UKAN Consultores, and several local organisations across the State of Mexico.
Young people in Vietnam are taking the lead in making their cities safer, greener, and more livable. The Empowering Youth for Livable Cities programme is equipping them with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to bring that vision to life.
Building on the success of AI&Me: Empowering Youth for Safer Roads, this new three-year initiative (2024–2027) is led by AIP Foundation in collaboration with Fondation Botnar, FIA Foundation, iRAP, and YOURS – Youth for Road Safety. Together, the partners share a belief that nothing about youth should be decided without youth.
Around the world, there are 1.8 billion young people, the largest youth generation in history, and 90% of them live in developing countries. Yet city planning often happens without their voices. In Vietnam, urban life can be particularly challenging for young people, as traffic is dense, noise and air pollution are high, and there are limited green spaces. Roads are designed for speed, not safety. As a result, crashes remain the second leading cause of death among children and young adults.
This programme is changing that by empowering young people with knowledge about safe and sustainable mobility and helping them engage directly in shaping infrastructure and safety in their communities. It creates space for youth voices to influence decisions, inspiring a new generation of leaders who see road safety not just as a policy issue, but as a pathway to healthier, more inclusive cities.
“Young people in Vietnam are ready to take the lead in making their cities more sustainable and their commutes safer. I have been impressed with YOURS’ work to not only share road safety skills, but give young people the confidence and soft skills to communicate their ideas to their local leaders.” Ms Trang Truong, Senior Program Manager, AIP Foundation
Through the programme, YOURS supports youth in developing their leadership skills and acting as changemakers in their communities. The team is developing a Vietnam Youth Leadership and Road Safety Curriculum, training educators and local government representatives, guiding peer-to-peer learning in schools, and coaching youth to present their ideas to policymakers. These activities are helping connect young people in Vietnam with the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety, linking local action to global change.
“We are pleased to be partnering with AIP Foundation and iRAP in this ambitious project that aims to reach tens of thousands of youth through our tried and tested capacity development methodology. Young people themselves understand their lived realities best in the communities when it comes to safety, and so equipping them with the skills to advocate and lead road safety change is crucial”.Manpreet Darroch, Capacity Development Director, YOURS.
Recent surveys with 92 teachers and 800 students are shaping the approach. The findings revealed that nearly a quarter of teachers are under 25, meaning many road safety educators are young people themselves. Both teachers and students identified speeding, distracted driving, and overtaking as significant risks around schools. Teachers expressed a strong desire to use more interactive methods in class, while students said they learn best through games, competitions, and creative activities.
These insights are now guiding the programme’s design, making road safety education more engaging, youth-led, and relevant to everyday life. “To harness data for change, who better to ask than those using the streets every day on their way to school? iRAP has partnered with YOURS to cascade the Youth Engagement App (YEA) to high school students across Vietnam so that they can become peer leaders in their communities.” Ms Shanna Lucchesi, Project Coordinator, iRAP
Over the next three years, the programme aims to train 60 school staff as curriculum trainers, engage 900 peer youth trainers, reach more than 40,000 students with road safety education, collect 10,000 data points through the Youth Engagement App, and support over 120 improvements to make school zones safer. Youth pitch competitions will also provide students with a platform to share their ideas directly with decision-makers, transforming advocacy into tangible impact.
The Empowering Youth for Livable Cities programme is redefining what youth participation looks like, moving from consultation to collaboration, building a generation of leaders ready to co-create safer streets and more liveable cities, not only for themselves but for everyone.
YOURS is proud to share that our Executive Director, Raquel Barrios, has been recognised in The Zag Daily List: 100 Mobility Changemakers 2025, a global selection highlighting leaders shaping the future of mobility. The list celebrates individuals driving safer, cleaner, and more connected transport systems worldwide, and this year, Raquel stands among those actively redefining how the world moves.
This recognition reflects far more than individual leadership. It comes at a pivotal moment for YOURS as we enter the Decade of Sustainable Transport, embracing a narrative where safety, sustainability, and equity are deeply interconnected. Under Raquel’s leadership, YOURS is evolving from a road-safety-focused organisation into a global reference in youth engagement for sustainable, inclusive, and safe mobility systems.
Central to this transformation is Raquel’s commitment to elevating youth voices, not as beneficiaries of decisions, but as system shapers, influencing policies, designing solutions, and driving the change their communities need. Through the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety, she has strengthened intergenerational collaboration and positioned young people as essential contributors to mobility transitions grounded in equity and accessibility.
“This recognition reflects the work young people are leading every day to push for mobility systems that are safe, sustainable, and grounded in equity. Their actions are already showing the world what this transformation can look like. I am honoured to walk alongside them in their leadership journeys, supporting them as the current and future leaders driving the changes our mobility systems urgently need.” Raquel Barrios, Executive Director, YOURS
Her inclusion in the Zag 100 reinforces the growing visibility of youth leadership in global transport agendas and aligns with YOURS’ mission to ensure that equity remains a defining principle of how mobility systems are reimagined in the years ahead.
We celebrate Raquel’s achievement and the collective youth power behind it. It reflects the momentum of a global movement working to build transport systems that enable everyone, in every community, to move safely, sustainably, and with dignity.
On 22 October 2025, the Global Designing Cities Initiative (GDCI) launched the Arabic edition of the Designing Streets for Kids Guide in Amman, Jordan, introducing a valuable resource to advance safer and more inclusive urban design across the region.
The event brought together representatives from the Public Security Directorate, the Ministry of Local Administration, and international organisations working to make cities safer for children and families. The guide provides practical and adaptable strategies for reimagining streets around schools, residential areas, commercial zones, and intersections, ensuring that children and caregivers are placed at the centre of city planning and design.
This milestone reflects a growing global effort to redesign streets that protect and enable people of all ages, linking safety, health, and quality of life through thoughtful urban planning.
YOURS – Youth for Road Safety was honoured to be part of this launch, invited by FIA Foundation, a long-standing partner whose collaboration continues to strengthen global efforts for youth-centred and sustainable mobility. Representing YOURS at the event, Sana’a Khasawneh, Senior Advocacy and Public Affairs Manager, joined global experts and policymakers to discuss how child-centred design can contribute to safer and more inclusive cities. Participating in initiatives like this reinforces our shared mission: creating environments where young people can move freely, safely, and confidently in cities that truly work for everyone.
The Designing Streets for Kids Guide stands as an inspiring example of how global knowledge can be adapted to local contexts, offering cities a clear roadmap to create environments where children can grow, learn, and thrive safely.
In Tunis, voices from across the MENA region came together to discuss one of today’s most vital issues: the health and well-being of adolescents. Hosted by the Juzoor Foundation for Health & Social Development in collaboration with the International Partnership for Population and Development (IPPD), the 6th MENA Region Adolescent Health Conference explored the theme “From Challenges to Solutions: A Holistic Approach to Adolescents’ Well-Being.”
YOURS joined the conference as an advocate for a broader and more inclusive conversation, one that recognises how mobility, equity, and the environments where young people live, study, and move are key to their health and happiness.
During the discussions, YOURS emphasised the importance of placing adolescents at the centre of decision-making. Young people should not be seen as passive recipients of policies or programmes; they are active partners, capable of shaping the solutions that affect their lives. When young people co-design initiatives, the results are more relevant, impactful, and sustainable.
In Tunis, voices from across the MENA region came together to discuss one of today’s most vital issues: the health and well-being of adolescents. Hosted by the Juzoor Foundation for Health & Social Development in collaboration with the International Partnership for Population and Development (IPPD), the 6th MENA Region Adolescent Health Conference explored the theme “From Challenges to Solutions: A Holistic Approach to Adolescents’ Well-Being.”
YOURS joined the conference as an advocate for a broader and more inclusive conversation, one that recognises how mobility, equity, and the environments where young people live, study, and move are key to their health and happiness.
During the discussions, YOURS emphasised the importance of placing adolescents at the centre of decision-making. Young people should not be seen as passive recipients of policies or programmes; they are active partners, capable of shaping the solutions that affect their lives. When young people co-design initiatives, the results are more relevant, impactful, and sustainable.
Adolescence is not a waiting room before adulthood; it’s a defining stage of life where identity, opportunity, and vulnerability meet. Investing in adolescent health means investing in a future that is more inclusive, resilient, and fair.
The energy in Tunis served as a strong reminder that young people are ready to lead and to challenge systems that do not represent them. YOURS remains committed to strengthening partnerships, amplifying youth voices, and ensuring that mobility and equity are recognised as essential parts of adolescent well-being.
Equity Begins with Access
