Integrated mobility concepts in residential areas: challenges and opportunities of measures for sustainable urban mobility

Abstract

Achieving sustainable mobility requires planning on a human scale. Integrated mobility concepts (IMCs) are coordinated plans for urban development and transport at the neighbourhood level comprising a wide range of measures. While policymakers hold high expectations of such concepts, there is a lack of studies that include the practitioners' knowledge. This research aims at examining the effects and potential of IMCs in residential areas regarding space efficiency and transport. To this end, we conducted a survey among experts from local authorities and housing companies in Germany. The results corroborate the findings from other studies according to which a combination of measures restricting car use and the provision of sustainable mobility alternatives is associated with space efficiency and traffic reduction. In order to successfully implement IMCs, actors need to collaborate more closely. Finally, to increase the chance of changing residents' behaviour, they should be involved in the development of IMCs.