Today, it is impossible to think of urban planning and mobility management without including sustainability strategies. This is not only because of the improvement of the quality of life and the greater efficiency of infrastructures in the present, but also because we must act with an eye to the importance of sustainable mobility in the cities of the future.
New technologies that have already been developed or that will emerge in the coming years will play a key role in this task. Efficient management of all resources to ensure mobility that promotes coexistence between citizens and vehicle users will only be possible with the use of technological solutions.
Why? Because sustainable mobility solutions are a fundamental pillar to improve the way we move around cities. We are talking about public and private transport networks as well as private cars, with the promotion of sustainable transport, less polluting than vehicles with combustion engines.
Looking ahead to the coming years and decades, what is the importance of sustainable mobility in the cities of the future and the role of technology? All the points to be addressed have to do with the decongestion of urban traffic, the efficiency of infrastructures without the need to build new ones, the decarbonization of transport and the reduction of CO2 and noise pollution levels.
Keys to sustainable mobility in the cities of the future
We can talk specifically about three keys to sustainable mobility in the cities of the future. And in the next part of the article we will focus on the concrete technologies and solutions needed to have sustainableSmart Cities that help fight climate change.
Promotion of sustainable means of transportation
Sustainable means of transport and the technology associated with them is an important step towards living in more sustainable and healthier cities. These means of transport already exist today – Metro networks, suburban trains, electric bicycles and scooters, car sharing, etc. – as well as the solutions that integrate them.
For this reason, the aim is to expand the use of technologies, which are already easy to use and bring greater speed and efficiency to the planning of intelligent routes for citizens.
It is also worth mentioning the importance that electric cars and solutions for controlling parking spaces reserved for electric vehicles will have in the future. As will be seen later, the management of reserved parking spaces is one of the most important areas in which technology will be a priority for sustainable mobility in the cities of the future.
Due to the approval of the end of new combustion car sales in Europe as of 2035, the automotive industry, Public Administrations (PAs) and private companies will have to further encourage and facilitate the use of electric or hybrid cars, as well as create a wider network of chargers and faster charging times.
Multimodal means of transport
Multimodal means of transport managed from centralized digital platforms or apps are another key to the sustainable future of cities. Specifically, it is the combination of different modes of transport to make efficient, economical and fast journeys in the daily lives of citizens.
That is, through easy-to-use technological solutions, accessible and with real-time information analysis, citizens are offered a combination of routes by city buses, train, Metro, bicycles or shared electric scooters, as well as Park & Ride areas to reduce the use of private cars in the center, parking on the outskirts and accessing it by other more sustainable means of transport.
In addition to being a tool to promote public transport, multimodal transport management systems allow travelers to plan their fastest routes to reach their destinations. It is the joint action of public authorities, solution providers and private companies that will overcome the challenge of effective coordination to support this combination.
Park&Ride
Intelligent optimization of the management of regulated parking spaces
Thirdly, the importance of sustainable mobility in the cities of the future also encompasses policies for managing and optimizing the management of regulated parking spaces so that there is more rotation of parking spaces, less traffic in search of free spaces and, therefore, greater satisfaction (public or private). In fact, this point is no less important than the previous two, since there are fewer and fewer parking options in cities and most of them have been converted into spaces reserved for special uses (handicapped) or regulated (loading and unloading, pay-per-place areas or free parking for a limited period of time). This is why they require good digitalized management to ensure their proper use and thus promote vehicle rotation, increase the availability of available spaces, reduce road traffic times and increase traffic flow.
This type of management, also based on innovative technologies such as traffic lights or intelligent crosswalks, helps drivers to use the best routes in the shortest possible time. In addition, as it is estimated that 30% of traffic in cities is due to vehicles looking for free parking spaces, parking guidance systems enable drivers to find parking sooner.
The environmental advantages are many in this respect: intelligent traffic infrastructures enable shorter car journeys, especially if parking can be found quickly. As a result, fewer cars are on the road, fewer greenhouse gases (GHG) are emitted into the atmosphere, and noise and noise pollution are reduced.
To all this, which means that the stress of driving is limited and the quality of life of people living in urban areas is improved, we must add a complement: driving becomes more comfortable and traffic accidents in cities can be reduced.
Technology and sustainable mobility in the cities of the future
The methods to promote sustainable mobility in cities are varied, as well as the technological solutions that make them possible. At Urbiotica we are experts in Smart Parking for Smart Cities and we have developed products and solutions that are integrated into these future plans.
Our parking zone detection, guidance and control systems achieve greater traffic flow. Therefore, committed to the goal of a society that makes the most of the power of technology, our aim is to promote a more efficient use of city infrastructures for the achievement of more sustainable mobility.
The motives are not just about sustainability and meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to achieve a carbon neutral society. It also has economic aspects associated with attracting sustainable tourism. It attracts a type of visitor who is conscious of respecting and contributing to the environment they visit. This translates into economic advantages for tourist destinations:
- Increased revenues.
- De-seasonalization of tourism.
- Promotion of the local economy.
These benefits make sustainable tourism not only beneficial from an environmental point of view, but also for the economic development of tourist destinations.
Together we can achieve more advanced and healthier societies, which is only possible by understanding the importance of sustainable mobility in the cities of the future and providing the most advanced solutions and technologies to achieve real sustainability for the common good.
