I’m an urban planner and anthropologist with over 20 years of experience in Europe and the Global South. As founder and director of november:city, a consulting firm focused on sustainable mobility and inclusive urban development, I work on rethinking transport systems as a foundation for more just and liveable cities. My approach centres mobility as a social issue — deeply connected to equity, access, and everyday life.
Through november:city, I provide advice to public and private sector partners on inclusive mobility strategies and lead participatory planning processes that elevate the needs of people often left out of traditional transport planning. Drawing on ethnographic and gender-sensitive methods, I help ensure that mobility systems reflect the lived realities of diverse communities.
Beyond project work, I’m committed to capacity building and knowledge exchange — especially on gender, mobility justice, and transformative planning. I teach at universities and regularly contribute to public talks and guest lectures to promote more human-centred, accessible approaches to mobility and urban space.
Selected publications or texts
- Schimmel, E. & Kager, R. (2025). Cycling and Public Transport in Synergetic Partnership. Info Bulletin, Journal of the Swiss Bicycle Conference (Velokonferenz Schweiz).
- Schimmel, E. (2022). On Gender-Sensitive Urban Planning. Contribution to Werk, Bauen + Wohnen, Switzerland.
- Schimmel, E. (2021). Guideline: Towards a Gender-Sensitive Urban Development. Connective Cities.
- Schimmel, E. (2021). Guideline: Towards a Gender-Responsive Urban Mobility. Connective Cities.
- Schimmel, E. (2021). Where Planning Meets Multiple Ways of Knowing: Buen Vivir and Spatial Planning in Ecuador. Published in Collage, Journal for Spatial Development, Bern.
- Moreni, G., Giacomazzi, F., Clericetti, A. & Schimmel, E. (2017). Monitoring the Gotthard Axis: Objectives and Trends Prior to Opening. Office for Spatial Development, Bern.
- Schimmel, E. & Schäfer, J. (2012). Spatial Planning in Napo Province (Ordenamiento Territorial en la Provincia Napo). Documentary, Quito, Ecuador.
- VCÖ [ed.] (n.d.). Infrastructure for Sustainable Mobility. Vienna, Austria.
- Rauh, W., Blum, J., Lehner-Lierz, U., Schimmel, E., Stögner, R. & Uranitsch, G. (2006). Cycling: Potential and Trends. Verkehrsclub Österreich, Vienna.
Selected speaking engagements
- The Bike — More Than Just Getting from A to B. Keynote, Veloforum, Bern, 2025.
- Rethinking Traffic Light Controlled Intersections for Cycling and Other Modes of Sustainable Transport. Presentation, Velo-city Conference, Gdańsk, Poland, 2025.
- Citizen Involvement in Urban Mobility. Panelist, Velo-city Conference, Gdańsk, Poland, 2025.
- Dutch Approaches to Growing Urban Mobility Challenges. Presentation, 15th Austrian Cycling Summit, Austria, 2025.
- GCI III Webinar – Females for Future: Women in the Cooling Sector, 2025.
- Why Do We Need to Talk About Gender in Urbanism? Lecture Series, University of Liechtenstein, 2021–2023.
- Planning Child-Friendly Cities. Lecture Series, University of Liechtenstein, 2022.
- Gender-Sensitive Urban Development. Workshops, Cities of Zürich and Basel, Switzerland, 2021.
- Gender- and Everyday-Friendly Building and Planning. Presentation, Conference of Urban Safety Directors, Bern, Switzerland, 2020.
- Une Ville Virile? Presentation and Panel Discussion, Forum d’Architecture Lausanne, Switzerland, 2018.
- Urban Issues in Latin America. Guest Lecture, University of Sopron, Hungary, 2017.
- Still a Long Way to Go – Walkability in Quito, Ecuador. Conference Contribution, Walk21, Vienna, Austria, 2015.
- Trend Reversal in Traffic Planning? – Putting People in Focus. Public Talk, Wolfurt, Austria.