Riga (Latvia) is the largest city in the Baltic states and a significant cultural, economic, and financial hub. Riga sits along the Daugava River and plays a central role in the region’s connectivity. Many residents of Riga use private cars for their daily trips, as a result there are significant traffic jams and pressure on the existing road transport infrastructure. To improve this situation as well as to reduce noise and air pollution, the city of Riga carries out various activities to promote the use of micromobility transport.

Latvia is also facing the highest road fatalities. Traffic accidents where cyclists have been involved are approx. 4% (stat. of 2020) of the total number of traffic accidents in Riga. The urban and suburban road network layouts are subject to heavy usage and variable climate conditions, which exacerbate the wear and tear of road structures and furniture. Currently, the city experiences an absence of timely infrastructure asset management that affects the efficiency and safety of transport system and hampers economic activities and quality of life in both the city and its outskirts.

Rīga City Council established three smart city living labs (one in VEF district, the second in the Riga Technical University campus in Ķīpsala, and the third in the territory of the University of Latvia in Torņkalns) to facilitate the creation of innovative solutions that support their sustainability goals and ensure a safe and reliable environment for VRUs.