Exploring Transformations in Sustainable Urban Mobility: Insights from CityWalk 2.0 project and beyond

Abstract

Since our society navigates through green and digital transitions, urban mobility becomes a critical focal point for change (Schipper et al, 2020). This paradigm shift significantly influences not only behavioural patterns and transportation modes, but also the formulation of urban planning policies (Van Acker et al, 2016). The exponential rise in urban population necessitates a heightened emphasis on sustainable urban mobility, as current transportation systems heavily reliant on automobiles contribute to adverse environmental effects, health concerns, and a scarcity of high-quality public spaces within urban landscapes (Schipper, 2002).

Within this context, the project CityWalk 2.0 project entitled Together for Energy-efficient Urban Mobility: Decreasing Carbon Intensity of Urban Transport by supporting Shift to Active Urban Mobility through rethinking street design and changing travel behaviour, financed under Interreg Danube program aims to promote energy transition in the transport sector by drastically reducing the energy use of urban transport and enhancing overall liveability (Anciaes & Jones, 2020). CityWalk 2.0 addresses the negative effects of car-centric urban transport systems and supports 10 pilot cities located in the Danube Region to shift from extremely energy-intensive (and inefficient) car-based mobility to active forms of mobility (walking, cycling), micromobility and street redesign, targeting both the city and the citizen level (Bertolini, 2020).

Despite the distinct local contexts of these cities, positive outcomes have been demonstrated through actions such as improvements in traffic safety, adoption of diversified transport modes and strategic planning in the past five years. Therefore, CityWalk 2.0 is structured around four main dimensions: anticipation of future challenges, reflexivity in adapting strategies, inclusion of diverse mobility modes, and reactivity to dynamic urban contexts.

A brief comparative analysis has been conducted between the approaches of the CityWalk 2.0 pilot cities. The results showcase the evident impact of soft and hard actions across various dimensions. Common walkability issues related to regulation and street design, as well as the elevation of pedestrians and cyclists to the apex of the "traffic pyramid," are highlighted in the cities’ approaches to sustainable urban mobility. Key elements of CityWalk 2.0 include the redesigning streets to encourage active mobility and discourage car use, changing the travel behaviour of citizens and strengthening the political will and commitment to implement the transformation.

In conclusion, insights from CityWalk 2.0 project contribute to Track 5 by examining the changes in transport modes, mobility policies, urban models, and the roles of various actors as drivers to attain Sustainable Urban Mobility in the 21st century, providing essential guidelines for reshaping the discourse on urban mobility transformations.