A review methodology of sustainable urban mobility plans: Objectives and actions to promote cycling and pedestrian mobility

Abstract

In the previous decade, the European Commission, among its policies to increase sustainability and the quality of life in European cities, has introduced the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP). The concepts brought forward in this novel planning approach further focus on sustainable transport modes, such as cycling and pedestrian mobility, which are two of the main issues included in SUMP. The European challenge is to integrate long-term planning perspectives and short-term actions. In this context, the aim of this paper is to analyze and classify the objectives and actions proposed in the SUMP adopted by European cities, focusing on the policies for improving cycling and pedestrian mobility. Therefore a review methodology is proposed in order to verify their coherence with the European guidelines, classifying objectives and actions for the promotion of cycling and pedestrian mobility. The research required that each of a set of SUMPs, adopted by various European cities, be analyzed and classified in order to identify the objectives and the planned actions and to verify the presence of qualitative and quantitative indicators, therefore presenting a first application of the proposed methodology. The results show how the cities follow the European policies relative to urban mobility in terms of objectives and actions and, in particular, in relation to cycling and pedestrian mobility. All cities in the sample set goals to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists by means of: the modernization and adaptation of the existing cycling paths and pedestrian walkways; and the construction of new long-distance cycle paths and of new pedestrian walkways and public areas that are comfortable for pedestrians. This work can be useful in order to verify the implementation of the sustainable urban planning process, establishing a benchmark process useful for other cities to follow.