Challenges for smart mobility: A study of governance in three European metropolitan areas

Abstract

The field of urban mobility has undergone significant transformations with the introduction of smart mobility strategies in regions worldwide. These innovations, though promising, can cause unintended consequences impacting urban landscapes and societies, necessitating effective regulations to mitigate negative effects. Within this context, this paper explores the governance challenges that might arise from the implementation of smart mobility in metropolitan areas in relation to the six dimensions of the Smart City: smart governance, smart living, smart environment, smart mobility, smart economy and smart people. To this end, a set of Focus Groups were conducted in three European metropolis: Madrid, Antwerp and Turku. Thematic analysis revealed one new challenge that had not been recognised previously in literature: integration of spatial planning and mobility, related to the smart living dimension. In general, the main challenges are related to smart governance, smart mobility and smart living. A comparison between the cases highlighted common governance challenges in the three metropolitan areas, while issues in the other dimensions varied. Finally, in response to the identified challenges, a set of strategic policy lines were proposed in each metropolitan area to facilitate the transition towards a more sustainable and smarter mobility model that fosters more liveable metropolis.