Pub Date : 2026-06-01Epub Date: 2025-12-17DOI: 10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100176
Chao Chen , Mengru Shao , Xiaoning Gu , Tao Feng
In the context of social resource inequality among the elderly, understanding elderly’s travel behavior is of importance for enhancing mobility services. Recent attention has been investigated the built environment impacts on travel decisions, however, the influencing mechanisms and its extent on elderly’s mobility patterns are not yet well understood. In particular, how the mode choice behavior of older population is shaped by their habitual behavior remains underexplored. Using the Dutch national travel survey data, this study explored the non-linear effects of historical travel patterns and the built environment on mode choice behaviors, as well as the heterogeneity across different aged groups. We found that historical travel patterns exert a larger impact on mode choice comparing to the built environment factors. Significant threshold effects of built environment factors on mode choice (indicating non-linear impacts) are observed. Older adults tend to walk within a travel distance of 2.5 km and use bike for longer trips beyond 3.5 km. The findings are valuable for policymakers in promoting active mobility patterns for older adults through infrastructure planning.
{"title":"Assessing the importance of travel habit and the built environment in shaping elderly’s mobility patterns: A case study in the Netherlands","authors":"Chao Chen , Mengru Shao , Xiaoning Gu , Tao Feng","doi":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100176","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100176","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the context of social resource inequality among the elderly, understanding elderly’s travel behavior is of importance for enhancing mobility services. Recent attention has been investigated the built environment impacts on travel decisions, however, the influencing mechanisms and its extent on elderly’s mobility patterns are not yet well understood. In particular, how the mode choice behavior of older population is shaped by their habitual behavior remains underexplored. Using the Dutch national travel survey data, this study explored the non-linear effects of historical travel patterns and the built environment on mode choice behaviors, as well as the heterogeneity across different aged groups. We found that historical travel patterns exert a larger impact on mode choice comparing to the built environment factors. Significant threshold effects of built environment factors on mode choice (indicating non-linear impacts) are observed. Older adults tend to walk within a travel distance of 2.5 km and use bike for longer trips beyond 3.5 km. The findings are valuable for policymakers in promoting active mobility patterns for older adults through infrastructure planning.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100852,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Urban Mobility","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100176"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145799944","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-06-01Epub Date: 2025-12-06DOI: 10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100173
Martin Lehnert , Christian Liebchen , Martin Schiefelbusch , Peter Bruder , Dennis Harmann
The efficiency of demand responsive transport (DRT) services, such as ridepooling, has garnered significant attention across various (simulation) studies. However, a deeper look into the metrics employed to assess system performance exposes notable discrepancies in their utilization. Notably, certain indicators, such as the pooling rate, demonstrate a susceptibility to manipulation based on input parameters, potentially skewing results to give a more favorable impression of service performance. In this paper, we show that, under such circumstances, achieving a fair comparison between study outcomes and with traditional (public) transport modes becomes challenging.
In light of these challenges, this study introduces a novel operational performance indicator: Operational System Efficiency (OSE). OSE is tailored to evaluate the operational efficiency of ridepooling systems in a holistic way. In particular, it combines important operational indicators such as detour factor and empty kilometers share, which are considered in numerous analyses. Hereby, OSE is fostering a more equitable assessment of service performance. We applied this methodology and calculated the indicators provided in other studies to two real-world trip datasets from ridepooling services in Berlin and Münster, Germany, and compared the results. Distinct disparities emerge in comparison with conventional efficiency indicators. Consequently, the proposed OSE holds promise for stakeholders, including service providers, public transport companies, and regulatory authorities, as a valuable tool for determining the suitability of a ridepooling service for a given locale relative to other transport modalities, while also providing a transparent assessment of its efficiency.
需求响应交通（DRT）服务的效率，如拼车，在各种（模拟）研究中引起了极大的关注。然而，更深入地研究用于评估系统性能的度量，就会发现它们的利用率存在显著差异。值得注意的是，某些指标，如池化率，显示出对基于输入参数的操纵的敏感性，可能会扭曲结果，从而给服务性能提供更有利的印象。在本文中，我们表明，在这种情况下，实现研究结果与传统（公共）交通方式之间的公平比较变得具有挑战性。鉴于这些挑战，本研究引入了一种新的运营绩效指标：运营系统效率（operational System Efficiency， OSE）。OSE旨在全面评估拼车系统的运营效率。特别是，它结合了重要的业务指标，如绕行系数和空公里份额，这是在许多分析中考虑的。因此，OSE正在促进对服务绩效的更公平的评估。我们将这一方法应用于其他研究中提供的指标，并将其计算到两个来自德国柏林和梅 nster的拼车服务的真实旅行数据集，并对结果进行比较。与传统效率指标相比，出现了明显的差距。因此，拟议的OSE为包括服务提供商、公共交通公司和监管机构在内的利益相关者带来了希望，作为一种有价值的工具，可以确定拼车服务相对于其他交通方式在特定地区的适用性，同时还提供了对其效率的透明评估。
{"title":"Insights into Ridepooling efficiency: A case study analysis using a novel operational performance measure framework","authors":"Martin Lehnert , Christian Liebchen , Martin Schiefelbusch , Peter Bruder , Dennis Harmann","doi":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100173","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100173","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The efficiency of demand responsive transport (DRT) services, such as ridepooling, has garnered significant attention across various (simulation) studies. However, a deeper look into the metrics employed to assess system performance exposes notable discrepancies in their utilization. Notably, certain indicators, such as the pooling rate, demonstrate a susceptibility to manipulation based on input parameters, potentially skewing results to give a more favorable impression of service performance. In this paper, we show that, under such circumstances, achieving a fair comparison between study outcomes and with traditional (public) transport modes becomes challenging.</div><div>In light of these challenges, this study introduces a novel operational performance indicator: Operational System Efficiency (<em>OSE</em>). <em>OSE</em> is tailored to evaluate the operational efficiency of ridepooling systems in a holistic way. In particular, it combines important operational indicators such as detour factor and empty kilometers share, which are considered in numerous analyses. Hereby, <em>OSE</em> is fostering a more equitable assessment of service performance. We applied this methodology and calculated the indicators provided in other studies to two real-world trip datasets from ridepooling services in Berlin and Münster, Germany, and compared the results. Distinct disparities emerge in comparison with conventional efficiency indicators. Consequently, the proposed <em>OSE</em> holds promise for stakeholders, including service providers, public transport companies, and regulatory authorities, as a valuable tool for determining the suitability of a ridepooling service for a given locale relative to other transport modalities, while also providing a transparent assessment of its efficiency.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100852,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Urban Mobility","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100173"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145694281","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-10-15DOI: 10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100157
Hannah Hook , Joyce David
This research explores the transport-related values and priorities of pre-adolescents (aged 10–12) from socially vulnerable backgrounds through participatory urban planning workshops in Flanders, Belgium. Using a simple streetscape design tool, 16 individual and four group diagrams were analyzed to identify recurring themes in how pre-adolescents envision public spaces. The findings reveal a strong emphasis on slow and active mobility modes, particularly walking and cycling, alongside safety features such as green barriers and well-defined pedestrian zones, reflecting participants’ developmental needs for secure, accessible environments and their reliance on active modes. Participants consistently valued green spaces not only for safety and traffic calming but also for aesthetics and socialization, demonstrating an intuitive understanding of their multifunctional role. Social spaces, particularly benches and greenscapes, emerged as key elements supporting peer interaction and community engagement. Group designs highlighted challenges in balancing competing priorities, as participants struggled to integrate diverse elements into limited spaces, resulting in compromises that mirror real-world urban planning dilemmas. By emphasizing active mobility, safety, and inclusivity, participants’ designs align with principles of sustainable urban development. This study underscores the importance of engaging pre-adolescents in participatory processes, as their perspectives offer valuable insights for creating equitable, child-friendly environments that benefit all users. The results highlight the need for structured guidance to help youth navigate complex planning decisions and advocate for policies that incorporate their voices to shape more inclusive and sustainable cities.
{"title":"Designing ideal streetscapes with youth: Exploring transport values through participatory urban planning in Flanders","authors":"Hannah Hook , Joyce David","doi":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100157","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100157","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This research explores the transport-related values and priorities of pre-adolescents (aged 10–12) from socially vulnerable backgrounds through participatory urban planning workshops in Flanders, Belgium. Using a simple streetscape design tool, 16 individual and four group diagrams were analyzed to identify recurring themes in how pre-adolescents envision public spaces. The findings reveal a strong emphasis on slow and active mobility modes, particularly walking and cycling, alongside safety features such as green barriers and well-defined pedestrian zones, reflecting participants’ developmental needs for secure, accessible environments and their reliance on active modes. Participants consistently valued green spaces not only for safety and traffic calming but also for aesthetics and socialization, demonstrating an intuitive understanding of their multifunctional role. Social spaces, particularly benches and greenscapes, emerged as key elements supporting peer interaction and community engagement. Group designs highlighted challenges in balancing competing priorities, as participants struggled to integrate diverse elements into limited spaces, resulting in compromises that mirror real-world urban planning dilemmas. By emphasizing active mobility, safety, and inclusivity, participants’ designs align with principles of sustainable urban development. This study underscores the importance of engaging pre-adolescents in participatory processes, as their perspectives offer valuable insights for creating equitable, child-friendly environments that benefit all users. The results highlight the need for structured guidance to help youth navigate complex planning decisions and advocate for policies that incorporate their voices to shape more inclusive and sustainable cities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100852,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Urban Mobility","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100157"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145324682","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Street vitality represents complex phenomena, influenced by multiple interacting factors, but increasingly considered as a mark of successful built environments. Despite the proliferating vitality modelling in urban areas over the past decade, there has been a lack of critical assessment of results’ replicability, particularly concerning whether there are consistent predicting factors and determinants. This systematic review focuses on regression-based studies of street vitality, aiming to comparatively assess the models used, the factors most frequently employed, and their implications. From 62 articles, 155 regression models were extracted, featuring 16 proxies for vitality and 536 significant independent variables. The most robust were the spatial regression models, which successfully predicted 72% of vitality proxies on average. The identified proxies capture the presence of people, user-generated content, street view perceptions, mobility metrics, and other built environment metrics. While the significance of functional diversity and road density as independent variables is reinforced, the relationship between street vitality proxies and other factors is not always consistent, potentially due to contextual and cultural dissimilarities, besides variations in the factors’ measurement or data quality. The emphasis on physical aspects and the high goodness-of-fit observed in certain models may inadvertently diminish the importance of temporal or tactical interventions. Having certain variables serve as both dependent and independent variables in separate models underscores an ambiguity surrounding the vitality notion, while the extent to which different proxies reflect the actual street vitality remains unanswered.
{"title":"A systematic review of regression models for street vitality","authors":"Anastasiia Galaktionova , Aura-Luciana Istrate , Páraic Carroll","doi":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100158","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100158","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Street vitality represents complex phenomena, influenced by multiple interacting factors, but increasingly considered as a mark of successful built environments. Despite the proliferating vitality modelling in urban areas over the past decade, there has been a lack of critical assessment of results’ replicability, particularly concerning whether there are consistent predicting factors and determinants. This systematic review focuses on regression-based studies of street vitality, aiming to comparatively assess the models used, the factors most frequently employed, and their implications. From 62 articles, 155 regression models were extracted, featuring 16 proxies for vitality and 536 significant independent variables. The most robust were the spatial regression models, which successfully predicted 72% of vitality proxies on average. The identified proxies capture the presence of people, user-generated content, street view perceptions, mobility metrics, and other built environment metrics. While the significance of functional diversity and road density as independent variables is reinforced, the relationship between street vitality proxies and other factors is not always consistent, potentially due to contextual and cultural dissimilarities, besides variations in the factors’ measurement or data quality. The emphasis on physical aspects and the high goodness-of-fit observed in certain models may inadvertently diminish the importance of temporal or tactical interventions. Having certain variables serve as both dependent and independent variables in separate models underscores an ambiguity surrounding the vitality notion, while the extent to which different proxies reflect the actual street vitality remains unanswered.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100852,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Urban Mobility","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100158"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145578628","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-11-06DOI: 10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100163
Zehra Özcelik, Cenk Hamamcioglu
This study examines the 15-minute city approach from an accessibility perspective; it discusses the most important parameters of accessibility at the point where they intersect with spatial justice. The hypothesis is that if the principles underlying the 15-minute city approach, such as proximity, service distribution, diversity, and density, align with the foundational components of spatial justice, then the implementation of a 15-minute city framework can contribute to designing more equitable and mobility enhancing urban environments. To test this, the study identifies shared indicators between the two frameworks and investigates how they manifest in the context of a dense in Istanbul. Adopting a multi-method approach, the research integrates three complementary techniques: (1) GIS-based network analyses to assess proximity and density of key services; (2) a household survey to evaluate perceived accessibility; and (3) street-level physical space observations to assess the inclusiveness and adequacy of the built environment on a micro scale. The case study is conducted in Beyoğlu, a historically layered and spatially fragmented district, allowing for the examination of both structural and experiential components of access. The results indicate that, although spatial proximity and service density vary significantly across neighborhoods, there are still gaps between objective accessibility and daily experiences. The results demonstrate that the 15-minute city approach can promote spatial justice when proximity is supported by socially responsive infrastructure, inclusive design, and attention to affordability and governance. By synthesizing the principles of spatial justice with the 15-minute city approach and testing them empirically in Beyoğlu, the study contributes a conceptual framework and practical guidance for context-sensitive, equity-oriented urban policy.
{"title":"From district to street: A multi-scale analysis of spatial justice through the 15-minute city framework in Beyoğlu, Istanbul","authors":"Zehra Özcelik, Cenk Hamamcioglu","doi":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100163","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100163","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examines the 15-minute city approach from an accessibility perspective; it discusses the most important parameters of accessibility at the point where they intersect with spatial justice. The hypothesis is that if the principles underlying the 15-minute city approach, such as proximity, service distribution, diversity, and density, align with the foundational components of spatial justice, then the implementation of a 15-minute city framework can contribute to designing more equitable and mobility enhancing urban environments. To test this, the study identifies shared indicators between the two frameworks and investigates how they manifest in the context of a dense in Istanbul. Adopting a multi-method approach, the research integrates three complementary techniques: (1) GIS-based network analyses to assess proximity and density of key services; (2) a household survey to evaluate perceived accessibility; and (3) street-level physical space observations to assess the inclusiveness and adequacy of the built environment on a micro scale. The case study is conducted in Beyoğlu, a historically layered and spatially fragmented district, allowing for the examination of both structural and experiential components of access. The results indicate that, although spatial proximity and service density vary significantly across neighborhoods, there are still gaps between objective accessibility and daily experiences. The results demonstrate that the 15-minute city approach can promote spatial justice when proximity is supported by socially responsive infrastructure, inclusive design, and attention to affordability and governance. By synthesizing the principles of spatial justice with the 15-minute city approach and testing them empirically in Beyoğlu, the study contributes a conceptual framework and practical guidance for context-sensitive, equity-oriented urban policy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100852,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Urban Mobility","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100163"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145464938","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-11-08DOI: 10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100152
Raffaello Furlan , Reem Awwaad
Automobile dependence has long shaped mobility patterns across urban and suburban landscapes, resulting in congestion, social fragmentation, and economic inefficiencies. In response to climate change, rising greenhouse gas emissions, and volatile oil prices, cities worldwide are turning to public transit as a sustainable alternative. Transit-Oriented Developments (TODs) are increasingly recognized as a policy tool to reshape mobility, urban form, and urban livability.
Middle Eastern cities, historically reliant on private vehicles, are now making significant investments in transit infrastructure. Doha, the capital of Qatar, has undergone rapid economic and demographic expansion over the past two decades, largely driven by the hydrocarbon sector. To manage urban growth and enhance mobility, the city is implementing an integrated public transport system including the Doha Metro, Lusail LRT, and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).
This study investigates three interrelated dimensions: (1) the integration of transit infrastructure with land use as part of Doha’s urban transformation, (2) the development trajectory of the Lusail LRT system, and (3) the policy relevance and livability impacts of TODs in Doha. The methodology combines spatial analysis of land use and transit networks with policy review and stakeholder perspectives, allowing for qualitative assessment of TOD opportunities, challenges, and impacts on urban quality of life.
The findings reveal that TODs can inform policy interventions aimed at reducing car dependence, enhancing accessibility, promoting mixed-use development, and fostering walkable, socially cohesive communities. Furthermore, they provide a transferable framework for developing socio-culturally contextualized TOD strategies in rapidly urbanizing, car-dependent settings. These insights extend beyond Doha, offering guidance for other Gulf cities seeking to balance modernization with sustainable and culturally sensitive urban development.
{"title":"Sustainable Urban Mobility in Qatar: Transforming Doha’s Built Environment through Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)","authors":"Raffaello Furlan , Reem Awwaad","doi":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100152","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100152","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Automobile dependence has long shaped mobility patterns across urban and suburban landscapes, resulting in congestion, social fragmentation, and economic inefficiencies. In response to climate change, rising greenhouse gas emissions, and volatile oil prices, cities worldwide are turning to public transit as a sustainable alternative. Transit-Oriented Developments (TODs) are increasingly recognized as a policy tool to reshape mobility, urban form, and urban livability.</div><div>Middle Eastern cities, historically reliant on private vehicles, are now making significant investments in transit infrastructure. Doha, the capital of Qatar, has undergone rapid economic and demographic expansion over the past two decades, largely driven by the hydrocarbon sector. To manage urban growth and enhance mobility, the city is implementing an integrated public transport system including the Doha Metro, Lusail LRT, and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).</div><div>This study investigates three interrelated dimensions: (1) the integration of transit infrastructure with land use as part of Doha’s urban transformation, (2) the development trajectory of the Lusail LRT system, and (3) the policy relevance and livability impacts of TODs in Doha. The methodology combines spatial analysis of land use and transit networks with policy review and stakeholder perspectives, allowing for qualitative assessment of TOD opportunities, challenges, and impacts on urban quality of life.</div><div>The findings reveal that TODs can inform policy interventions aimed at reducing car dependence, enhancing accessibility, promoting mixed-use development, and fostering walkable, socially cohesive communities. Furthermore, they provide a transferable framework for developing socio-culturally contextualized TOD strategies in rapidly urbanizing, car-dependent settings. These insights extend beyond Doha, offering guidance for other Gulf cities seeking to balance modernization with sustainable and culturally sensitive urban development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100852,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Urban Mobility","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100152"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145528217","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ensuring equitable access to urban environments is essential for inclusive cities. This study presents the development of an Accessibility Routing Model that improves navigation for physically able, mobility impaired, and visually impaired pedestrians. Unlike previous research that focused on footway width and slope to evaluate accessibility, this study, through an optimisation model, integrates key accessibility criteria, such as footway width, footway slope, kerb design, tactile paving, and the presence of obstacles. Based on extensive audits conducted in the municipality of Penteli (Athens), data were collected from over 400 locations, and accessibility maps were produced for each user group. The routing algorithm calculates the shortest accessible path or, if necessary, an alternative path with minimal violations of accessibility standards. A mobile application was developed to deliver real-time route suggestions tailored to users’ abilities. The paper highlights gaps in urban design and emphasizes the urgent need for improvements to foster independence and social inclusion for vulnerable road users. Keywords: accessibility mapping; accessibility routing model; navigation; inclusivity; mobility impaired pedestrians; visually impaired pedestrians.
{"title":"Accessibility routing model for the safe navigation of vulnerable road users in urban environments","authors":"Konstantinos Kaselouris, Xenia Karekla, Anastasia Koupani, Konstantinos Gkiotsalitis","doi":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100164","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100164","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ensuring equitable access to urban environments is essential for inclusive cities. This study presents the development of an Accessibility Routing Model that improves navigation for physically able, mobility impaired, and visually impaired pedestrians. Unlike previous research that focused on footway width and slope to evaluate accessibility, this study, through an optimisation model, integrates key accessibility criteria, such as footway width, footway slope, kerb design, tactile paving, and the presence of obstacles. Based on extensive audits conducted in the municipality of Penteli (Athens), data were collected from over 400 locations, and accessibility maps were produced for each user group. The routing algorithm calculates the shortest accessible path or, if necessary, an alternative path with minimal violations of accessibility standards. A mobile application was developed to deliver real-time route suggestions tailored to users’ abilities. The paper highlights gaps in urban design and emphasizes the urgent need for improvements to foster independence and social inclusion for vulnerable road users. Keywords: accessibility mapping; accessibility routing model; navigation; inclusivity; mobility impaired pedestrians; visually impaired pedestrians.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100852,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Urban Mobility","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100164"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145528218","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-08-04DOI: 10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100142
Segundo Paico-Saavedra , Alberto Rojas-Rivero , Raúl F. Elizondo-Candanedo , Aldo Arranz-López , Julio A. Soria-Lara
Although COVID-19′s impact on mobility has been widely studied—often highlighting the disproportionate burden on vulnerable groups—two aspects remain understudied: the need for a multidimensional approach to vulnerability, and the role of perceived rather than observed mobility restrictions in shaping access during crises. This study addresses this gap by investigating how structural vulnerabilities (e.g., transport mobility, digital access, and socioeconomic) shaped the ability to engage in work and educational activities during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Madrid Region. A survey of captive public transport users was conducted, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to identify key dimensions of vulnerability. These dimensions -related to socioeconomic status, digital access, household characteristics, and commuting conditions- were then included in an ordinal logistic regression to assess their influence on perceived mobility difficulty. The results reveal a complex and layered geography of vulnerability. Individuals with limited teleworking capacity, digital exclusion, and economic precarity were significantly more likely to report mobility restrictions, especially in suburban and peripheral areas with fewer transport alternatives. In contrast, those with greater digital access, financial resilience, or private mobility options reported fewer barriers. The findings emphasize that transport-related disadvantages cannot be understood without digital and social inequalities. Policy implications include the need to integrate digital accessibility into transport equity frameworks, improve service provision in structurally dependent areas, and recognize informal household-level mobility strategies as assets.
{"title":"Digital and socioeconomic inequalities in perceived mobility restrictions for activity participation: Captive users in Madrid","authors":"Segundo Paico-Saavedra , Alberto Rojas-Rivero , Raúl F. Elizondo-Candanedo , Aldo Arranz-López , Julio A. Soria-Lara","doi":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100142","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100142","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Although COVID-19′s impact on mobility has been widely studied—often highlighting the disproportionate burden on vulnerable groups—two aspects remain understudied: the need for a multidimensional approach to vulnerability, and the role of perceived rather than observed mobility restrictions in shaping access during crises. This study addresses this gap by investigating how structural vulnerabilities (e.g., transport mobility, digital access, and socioeconomic) shaped the ability to engage in work and educational activities during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Madrid Region. A survey of captive public transport users was conducted, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to identify key dimensions of vulnerability. These dimensions -related to socioeconomic status, digital access, household characteristics, and commuting conditions- were then included in an ordinal logistic regression to assess their influence on perceived mobility difficulty. The results reveal a complex and layered geography of vulnerability. Individuals with limited teleworking capacity, digital exclusion, and economic precarity were significantly more likely to report mobility restrictions, especially in suburban and peripheral areas with fewer transport alternatives. In contrast, those with greater digital access, financial resilience, or private mobility options reported fewer barriers. The findings emphasize that transport-related disadvantages cannot be understood without digital and social inequalities. Policy implications include the need to integrate digital accessibility into transport equity frameworks, improve service provision in structurally dependent areas, and recognize informal household-level mobility strategies as assets.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100852,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Urban Mobility","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100142"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144772377","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-06-17DOI: 10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100133
Valeria Caiati , Soora Rasouli , Helber López
This article contributes to the discourse on Mobility as a Service (MaaS) by presenting four plausible scenarios for its development in Europe up to 2030. Unlike previous scenario studies, which often relied on desk research or focused on narrow contexts, this study employs a co-design methodology that involved interdisciplinary experts from both public and private sectors across Europe. Their perspectives are integrated throughout the process, from identifying key uncertainties to building the scenario narratives. This approach supports a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities shaping MaaS futures. The four resulting scenarios (i.e. Mobility Walled Garden, Open Data Power in Standby, Everyone on Their Own, and Open Ecosystem) reflect how different configurations of market competition and API openness shape the trajectory of MaaS. While open standards and interoperability emerge as key enablers, their impact depends on the presence of supportive governance and institutional coordination. Imbalances, such as strong data frameworks without market diversity, or open competition with fragmented and poorly coordinated services, can weaken long-term system resilience. The scenario framework offers a structured lens for anticipating these tensions and guiding strategic decisions in MaaS development.
{"title":"Exploring the future of Mobility as a Service (MaaS): A co-design approach to scenario planning in European cities","authors":"Valeria Caiati , Soora Rasouli , Helber López","doi":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100133","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100133","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This article contributes to the discourse on Mobility as a Service (MaaS) by presenting four plausible scenarios for its development in Europe up to 2030. Unlike previous scenario studies, which often relied on desk research or focused on narrow contexts, this study employs a co-design methodology that involved interdisciplinary experts from both public and private sectors across Europe. Their perspectives are integrated throughout the process, from identifying key uncertainties to building the scenario narratives. This approach supports a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities shaping MaaS futures. The four resulting scenarios (i.e. <em>Mobility Walled Garden, Open Data Power in Standby, Everyone on Their Own</em>, and <em>Open Ecosystem</em>) reflect how different configurations of market competition and API openness shape the trajectory of MaaS. While open standards and interoperability emerge as key enablers, their impact depends on the presence of supportive governance and institutional coordination. Imbalances, such as strong data frameworks without market diversity, or open competition with fragmented and poorly coordinated services, can weaken long-term system resilience. The scenario framework offers a structured lens for anticipating these tensions and guiding strategic decisions in MaaS development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100852,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Urban Mobility","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100133"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144297024","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-09-26DOI: 10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100148
Bartosz Bursa , Felix Mölk , Gottfried Tappeiner , Sebastian Vicoli , Alessa Heeß , Markus Mailer
This study examines the impact of a multi-service mobile app on tourist decision-making across three key stages: destination selection, long-distance travel, and local mobility at the destination. Utilizing discrete choice experiments (DCEs) with 266 survey participants, the study evaluates the effects of an app that integrates information and booking interface for transportation, attractions, and local facilities. The results highlight that while the impact of the app is generally low, its added value becomes more substantial in complex and time-sensitive stages of travel, such as on-site mobility. The app’s availability increases the market share of destinations by up to 4.5 percentage points and increases the attractiveness of rail travel by 27 % under specific scenarios. The willingness to pay for the app is in the range of 7-12 € per night for destination choice, 10–20 € for mode choice for long-distance travel to destination, and 1-1.28 € per trip for local trips at the destination, indicating that it is commercially viable to develop and maintain. Despite these benefits, the app's effectiveness is contingent on user awareness and integration with high-quality local transport services. The study introduces the app as a "digital Trojan horse," leveraging its functionalities to unobtrusively promote sustainable travel options. This research underscores the need for collaborative app development across destinations and suggests further investigation into large-scale deployment and heterogeneity in user preferences.
{"title":"Digital Trojan horse – urban tools in a non-urban environment. How to inform tourist travel decisions by means of a multi-service mobile app","authors":"Bartosz Bursa , Felix Mölk , Gottfried Tappeiner , Sebastian Vicoli , Alessa Heeß , Markus Mailer","doi":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100148","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100148","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examines the impact of a multi-service mobile app on tourist decision-making across three key stages: destination selection, long-distance travel, and local mobility at the destination. Utilizing discrete choice experiments (DCEs) with 266 survey participants, the study evaluates the effects of an app that integrates information and booking interface for transportation, attractions, and local facilities. The results highlight that while the impact of the app is generally low, its added value becomes more substantial in complex and time-sensitive stages of travel, such as on-site mobility. The app’s availability increases the market share of destinations by up to 4.5 percentage points and increases the attractiveness of rail travel by 27 % under specific scenarios. The willingness to pay for the app is in the range of 7-12 € per night for destination choice, 10–20 € for mode choice for long-distance travel to destination, and 1-1.28 € per trip for local trips at the destination, indicating that it is commercially viable to develop and maintain. Despite these benefits, the app's effectiveness is contingent on user awareness and integration with high-quality local transport services. The study introduces the app as a \"digital Trojan horse,\" leveraging its functionalities to unobtrusively promote sustainable travel options. This research underscores the need for collaborative app development across destinations and suggests further investigation into large-scale deployment and heterogeneity in user preferences.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100852,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Urban Mobility","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100148"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145157318","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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