Sustainable Mobility and Public Transportation Systems in Medium-Sized Cities

Abstract

The subject of this project is the elaboration of a sustainable public transportation systems plan in a mid-sized city. The study aims to maximize the benefits of an urban area in order to improve the quality of life for both residents and visitors, with participatory planning and the principles of sustainable development. Sustainable mobility is defined as the movement of people and goods both in the urban and suburban axes of cities, which is based on three main pillars: environment, society and economy. These pillars also outline the key objectives of a Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan, which are none other than providing urban mobility for all, providing safety while adopting environmental transport standards. Furthermore, the financial element is also taken into account, contributing to increased efficiency. For the reasons mentioned above, sustainable mobility aims to create ideal public transport conditions, contributing to improving the quality of city life. This research demonstrates the necessity of adopting a Sustainable Urban Transport Plan by the Municipality of Xanthi, in northern Greece, as evidenced by the recording of the current situation. Therefore, the main scope of the study is to formulate policies and implement measures that will gradually strengthen the use of public transport changing the mentality of citizens who move around using the car.