We know that street congestion and air pollution are problems that have a great impact on the quality of life of millions of people around the world, so more and more cities are choosing to implement initiatives linked to sustainable mobility. This paradigm seeks to transform the way in which we move around, giving rise to cleaner alternatives that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the quality of the air we breathe, as well as encouraging physical activity among the population and promoting urban development.
Environmental benefits of sustainable mobility
Improves air quality
Thanks to the implementation of measures linked to sustainable mobility, emissions of greenhouse gases such as CO2, methane and nitrogen oxides are reduced. This means a substantial improvement in the air quality of the city in question and, therefore, in the health of citizens and visitors, who will be at less risk of suffering from common ailments such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and allergies.
2. Reduces the ecological footprint
Similarly, sustainable mobility reduces the ecological footprint of transportation: less energy is consumed and therefore the demand for natural resources decreases. It also encourages the creation of green spaces in cities, promoting the use of alternative means of transportation, such as bicycles, in areas that are safe for citizens, as well as the preservation of local biodiversity.
Economic benefits of sustainable mobility
1. Reduces health care costs
Although often overlooked at first glance, urban air quality has as much impact on public health costs as traffic accidents. The greater the pollution, the greater the likelihood of respiratory, cardiac or allergy problems that require visits to doctors for treatment, even if the cause is still present. This generates a necessary economic burden that can be easily reduced with the right measures.
2. Reduces maintenance costs
Moreover, in addition to minimizing traffic accidents, sustainable mobility means that there are fewer vehicles circulating on the streets, thus reducing the cost of road maintenance. This is made possible both by policies that promote alternative transportation, and by policies that optimize drivers’ routes through intelligent parking systems that allow them to spend less time driving around looking for a place to park near their destination.
3. Increases the local economy
Spending less time commuting also helps increase labor productivity and quality of life for citizens, which ultimately provides an economic boost for small and large businesses. Thanks to sustainable mobility, cities become more attractive places in which to live and work, which attracts new investment more easily and increases employment opportunities in the area.
Large-scale sustainable mobility in a short time
Implementing sustainable mobility initiatives on a large scale may seem complicated, but it is possible to achieve results in the short term if the first points for improvement and good planning are clear.
Intelligent parking systems help to optimize available parking spaces in cities in a short time, and are easy to install and use.
In this way, drivers do not waste time driving back and forth in search of free spaces, so traffic will start to slow down as soon as the parking detection, guidance and control devices are in use.
In addition, these systems provide relevant information on trends in the use of parking spaces and the real needs of drivers. With this data, it is possible to improve urban planning, relocating reserved spaces for specific uses: loading and unloading, people with reduced mobility or charging stations for electric vehicles, among others. It reduces the need to invest in new infrastructure, giving the opportunity to optimize the resources already available in the city.
Smart parking systems are also very useful for promoting the use of other modes of transport, for example, by directing drivers to Park&Ride zones located on the outskirts of cities through the guidance application so that they can continue their journey to the city center by bicycle or public transport. In these cases, it is important that the options are accessible and have frequency and coverage to reach different parts of the city.
Park&Ride
Finally, smart parking systems allow connecting as many detection devices as desired, which makes it easier for cities to opt for a scalable strategy in which they first cover the most critical areas, which are usually the center or the main entrance roads, and then expand to the rest of the locality.
In short, opting today for measures that promote sustainable mobility may be the best alternative for transforming cities into healthier and more accessible places. Its benefits, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and traffic jams in the streets, mean major changes in the quality of life of citizens and visitors.
In addition, specific strategies such as smart parking systems represent an investment with which it is possible to achieve results in the short term. A way to help rapidly improve air quality with the aim of protecting the health of the population, as well as promoting public and active transportation alternatives to accelerate this transition.
At Urbiotica, we offer solutions adapted to all types of infrastructure, from autonomous sensors at ground level to detection cameras, which facilitate the guidance to available spaces and the control of spaces from a single point. Our goal is to ensure efficient mobility in cities around the world, so our systems are designed to cause the least impact on the city’s infrastructure, which is very useful in historical cases concerned about preserving their heritage.
