The aim of this article is to answer the question of what is behind the qualitative vision of sustainable urban transportation, a vision which is so difficult to achieve and to which so many stakeholders commit. This article shows that there are no universally valid indicator systems or target values; the process toward sustainable urban transportation is as important as the outcomes. It sheds light on the ideas behind the concept of sustainable urban transportation and aims to enable readers to select their targets and indicators for measuring progress and to set up governance processes for their individual situations.