Factors Affecting the Evolution of Sustainable Mobility in Smarter, Happier Cities

The growing connections between people and the outside world through the evolution of infrastructure and transport services are among the factors that can make places happier. In particular, the concept of happiness could be directly related to the number of possible choices and therefore to the degree of freedom perceived during the daily travel. It must be emphasised that the models on which our cities are based, created on people and/or cars, have a direct influence on daily travel. Similarly, the increasing spread of mobility services such as shared mobility can stimulate the supply of transport and make travel more sustainable, generating a lower economic and social environmental impact. The development of such services has broadened the scope of traditional on-demand services (both shared mobility and DRT). Alongside these, recently introduced services such as ride hailing, carpooling and all vehicle sharing services that allow people to share cars, scooters and bicycles are consolidated and continue to grow. This article focuses on a literature analysis of European case studies highlighting the main factors that have contributed to the choice of these forms of mobility. The comparison of the different case studies shows that environmental factors (such as climate change) together with economic and social factors have influenced and continue to influence mobility choices, especially in the post-pandemic phase and the current energy crisis. The study therefore provides the basis for improving the planning and management of services in the European context and ensuring higher sustainability standards for transport systems.