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Sustainable Urban Green Transport and Mobility: Lessons from Practice

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Development Goals towards Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2027 | Viewed by 2004

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor

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Guest Editor
Department of Enterprise Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via del Politecnico, Roma, Italy
Interests: multi-criteria decision-making; budget risk management; pavement management

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As the transport sector currently accounts for approximately 25% of global energy-related CO2 emissions, the transition toward green urban mobility has become a central pillar in sustainable spatial planning. While the theoretical path to decarbonization is well-mapped, practical application frequently faces complex technical and contextual barriers.

I am pleased to invite you to submit your research to this Special Issue of Sustainability dedicated to “Sustainable Urban Green Transport and Mobility: Lessons from Practice”. Our objective is to move beyond academic exercises and treat the dissemination of best practices as a fundamental engineering imperative. We seek to validate the transferability of successful strategies—such as the “15-minute city” model, integrated mobility as a service (MaaS) platforms, and “30 km/h” zones—through empirical evidence.

By sharing proven experiences, we can help local authorities optimize resources and adapt effective solutions to diverse contexts. We welcome therefore submissions on the following areas of interest:

  • Active and shared mobility solutions;
  • Integrated multimodal transport planning;
  • People-centered streets and school streets;
  • Planning strategies for a micromobility-friendly environment;
  • Sustainable mobility governance and accessibility.

Together, we can foster innovation and strengthen the credibility of active mobility policies to amplify long-term impacts on quality of life and social inclusion.

Dr. Natalia Distefano
Dr. Salvatore Leonardi
Dr. Maria Grazia Augeri
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • urban planning
  • environmental impact
  • micro-mobility
  • active-mobility
  • bike lanes
  • public transport
  • car-free zones
  • traffic calming
  • best practices

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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29 pages, 6749 KB  
Article
Agent-Based Modeling of Pedestrian Crossing Behavior in Commercial Streets: Seven Actionable Strategies for Safe and Sustainable Urban Mobility
by Nourhan Ahmed, Abeer Elshater, Samy Afifi and Wesam M. Elbardisy
Sustainability 2026, 18(8), 4122; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18084122 - 21 Apr 2026
Viewed by 892
Abstract
Despite extensive research on sustainable urban mobility, non-designated crossings remain underexplored, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where they are highly prevalent. This study applies agent-based simulation to analyze pedestrian crossing behavior in commercial streets. We adopted a mixed-methods approach, combining video recordings, [...] Read more.
Despite extensive research on sustainable urban mobility, non-designated crossings remain underexplored, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where they are highly prevalent. This study applies agent-based simulation to analyze pedestrian crossing behavior in commercial streets. We adopted a mixed-methods approach, combining video recordings, field observations, and structured questionnaires to capture physical conditions and user perceptions in a case in Cairo. The collected data were spatially analyzed using a Geographic Information System (GIS) to identify key spatial and behavioral variables influencing crossing decisions. These variables were then incorporated into an Agent-Based Model developed using the GAMA platform to simulate pedestrian–vehicle interactions. The simulation assessed pedestrian flow, non-designated crossing rates, average vehicle speed, and traffic volume. Results indicate strong relationships between pedestrian flow and non-designated crossings, and moderate associations between increased pedestrian activity and reduced vehicle speeds, while traffic volume shows weak correlations with pedestrian-related indicators. The model reveals distinct patterns of pedestrian crossing behavior, shaped by street configuration and traffic dynamics, and highlights critical risk points in commercial streets. Based on these findings, the study proposes seven actionable strategies to enhance pedestrian safety while supporting a more sustainable urban mobility. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Green Transport and Mobility: Lessons from Practice)
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23 pages, 367 KB  
Systematic Review
Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Benefits of Cycling Infrastructure: Insights from Existing Research
by Muhammad Sajjad Ansar and Raktim Mitra
Sustainability 2026, 18(9), 4414; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18094414 - 30 Apr 2026
Viewed by 786
Abstract
Cycling is widely recognized as a sustainable urban mobility solution, and many municipalities focus on cycling infrastructure expansion to promote improved environmental sustainability. However, the current literature on cycling has predominantly focused on safety and health benefits, while the environmental benefits including GHG [...] Read more.
Cycling is widely recognized as a sustainable urban mobility solution, and many municipalities focus on cycling infrastructure expansion to promote improved environmental sustainability. However, the current literature on cycling has predominantly focused on safety and health benefits, while the environmental benefits including GHG mitigation benefits remain less explored. To summarize findings from the current literature that explore the GHG emissions-related benefits (or costs) of cycling infrastructure, we conducted a literature review using five major scientific databases, following the PRISMA guidelines. Out of 824 screened records, 17 studies met the inclusion criteria. Most studies were published in the last decade, reflecting a limited but growing interest in this topic. The current analytical approaches include mode shift analysis, life cycle assessment, and scenario modelling. Among these, mode shift analysis (i.e., assessing the potential benefits related to replacement of car trips with cycling) remains a commonly used method. We found that cycling offers significant operational benefits by reducing GHG emissions, especially in the context of large-scale expansions of cycling infrastructure. Existing research indicates that even when embodied emissions are considered, bicycle is a more sustainable mode of transportation compared to cars or even public transit. However, emissions associated with installation and maintenance of cycling infrastructure may sometimes negate the GHG benefits associated with additional cycling. We discussed gaps in the current literature and directions for future research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Green Transport and Mobility: Lessons from Practice)
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