Milano Takes the Lead in Public Transport Usage among Cities
Sustainable Mobility in Italy: Northern Cities Lead the Way
Italy's urban centers are undergoing a shift towards sustainable mobility, with some cities excelling in this area more than others. A comprehensive study by Will Media, in collaboration with over 70 NGOs, environmental associations, and civil society organizations, considered 10 major urban centers in Italy and ranked them based on their environmental friendliness, including mobility factors.
The leading cities for sustainable mobility in Italy are Reggio Emilia and Mantova, both located in Northern Italy. These cities ranked second and third respectively in the 2020 index, reflecting their well-integrated and environmentally friendly mobility systems. However, Southern cities like Cosenza did not rank as highly [1].
The ranking was based on 18 indicators covering air, water, waste, mobility, urban environment, and energy [1]. Although the exact scores for mobility specifically are not provided, the overall sustainability ranking strongly suggests that cities with better-developed sustainable mobility systems fared well.
Reggio Emilia and Mantova's success can be attributed to their emphasis on public transport and cycling infrastructure. In Milan, for instance, 41% of people prefer public transport over private cars, taxis, motorcycles, and bicycles or walking. In contrast, cities like Catania, Rome, Naples, Florence, Bologna, Turin, and Palermo have a lower reliance on public transport. For example, in Catania, only 13% use public transport, while 64% prefer private cars, taxis, or motorcycles [1].
The ongoing construction on tram lines in Florence and the poor development of bicycle lanes in cities like Florence and Naples are hindering the adoption of sustainable mobility solutions. The report also highlighted the need for resilience and inclusiveness in urban mobility planning, as emphasized by projects like GOLIA [3].
The ISGlobal Ranking, which assesses cities on sustainable transport infrastructure, environmental quality, and urban design, provides a broader European outlook on urban health and sustainable transport. Although specific Italian city scores were not detailed in the sources, this ranking could further inform the Italian city rankings [4].
In conclusion, the findings of the Will Media report suggest that Northern Italian cities are currently leading the sustainable mobility efforts, aligned with their higher environmental sustainability rankings overall. However, there is still work to be done, particularly in Southern cities, to promote the adoption of sustainable mobility solutions and improve the overall environmental friendliness of Italian cities.
[1] Will Media. (2020). The Abc of Mobility. [2] Rafaci Preto-Curiel, J.P. Ospina. (2020). The Abc of Mobility. [3] GOLIA Project. (n.d.). [4] ISGlobal Ranking. (n.d.).
- Home-and-garden improvements, such as cycling infrastructure, play a significant role in advancing sustainable mobility in leading cities like Reggio Emilia and Mantova.
- Finance and investment in public-transit systems, like trams in Florence, can drastically influence the adoption of sustainable transportation solutions within urban centers.
- Lifestyle changes, such as a preference for public transport over personal vehicles, can contribute to the environmental friendliness of cities and improve their sustainability rankings in areas like mobility.
