{"title":"The 15-minute city in the Global South: Modeling spatial accessibility and measuring social equity across seven major Iranian cities","authors":"Babak Badakhshan , Ayyoob Sharifi , Samira Ramezani","doi":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100168","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100168","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As cities around the globe strive to improve urban sustainability and resilience while tackling challenges like climate change, Moreno's 15-minute city model is becoming increasingly popular in urban planning research and practice. Several previous studies have applied different spatial modeling frameworks to assess whether contemporary cities align with the vision of this model. To date, few studies have focused on the applicability of this model in Global South cities. As such, further empirical research is required to advance our understanding of the global relevance of the 15-minute city concept beyond narratives predominantly rooted in Western urbanism. Our study aims to fill this gap by operationalizing the model for seven major Iranian cities and highlighting the relationships between social exclusion and inequitable access to everyday needs. We show significant variation in the levels of walking access to different activity location categories within and across the study cities, with inner areas exhibiting better access and marginal areas showing poorer access to essential services. Furthermore, residents’ deprivation level was strongly associated with a higher probability of reaching everyday services beyond a 15-minute walk— except for two cities. We discuss that although in study cities essential amenities are, to some extent, accessible within a 15-minute walk or bike ride, significant socio-cultural, institutional, and infrastructural barriers; such as, imposed restrictions on women’s cycling, inadequate active travel infrastructure, and the persistent non-recognition of walking as a legitimate mode of transportation continue to hinder the meaningful implementation of the model in Iranian context.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100852,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Urban Mobility","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100168"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145622822","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Journal of Urban MobilityPub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-09-29DOI: 10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100155
Weicong Luo, Li Dai
{"title":"The role of mothers’ past transport behaviour and environmentally friendly mindset in their children’s sustainable transport choices in early adulthood","authors":"Weicong Luo, Li Dai","doi":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100155","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100155","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This longitudinal study examines the correlation between mothers’ environmentally friendly mindset and transport behaviours during their offspring’s adolescence and the likelihood of their offspring adopting sustainable commuting modes (e.g. public transport and active transport) in early adulthood. An integrated choice and latent variable model were used to investigate these associations, utilizing data from 678 mother-child pairs in waves 4 and 10 of the UK understanding society. The study finds that maternal environment-friendly mindsets during their offspring’s adolescence are associated with a higher likelihood of offspring choosing public transport modes to work in early adulthood. Additionally, the frequency of mothers’ use of buses and bicycles during their offspring’s adolescence was positively associated with the offspring’s choice of public transport mode and active transport mode to work in adulthood, separately. In contrast, negative relationships are observed between the mothers’ frequent car use during their offspring’s adolescence and the offspring’s likelihood of adopting active transport and public transport modes to work in early adulthood, respectively. This study provides insights into intergenerational correlation of sustainable transport behaviours from a longitudinal perspective. Furthermore, this study recommends that interventions promoting sustainable commuting behaviours in early adulthood can be broadened to account for the long-term role of maternal sustainable transport practices during their children’s formative years.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100852,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Urban Mobility","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100155"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145219000","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Journal of Urban MobilityPub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-11-17DOI: 10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100156
Asa Thomas
{"title":"Temporary recurring closures and changing mobility patterns: A quasi-experimental study of the impacts of London’s Covid-19 school streets on travel to school","authors":"Asa Thomas","doi":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100156","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100156","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With over 500 schemes installed since March 2020, School Streets have been one of the most significant street experiments conducted in London. As temporary and recurring closures to streets these schemes provide a novel typology of street experiment which may be applicable to other contexts. In research on urban street experiments, questions have been raised about the extent to which such schemes can contribute to wider mobility transitions. Through a quasi-experimental analysis of school travel data, this study seeks to assess this question in relation to London’s School Streets schemes. It asks to what extent have these schemes reduced the use of private motor vehicles and increased the uptake of active modes of travel to school. The analysis finds positive but modest results on this count, with some evidence that School Streets have helped to prevent a ‘car-based recovery’ from Covid-19 in London. It goes on to reflect on the implications of this for the wider study of the impacts of street experiments on urban mobility.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100852,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Urban Mobility","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100156"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145578630","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Journal of Urban MobilityPub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-08-01DOI: 10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100140
Sarah E. O’Toole , Nicola Christie , Damian Poulter
{"title":"Driver compliance with the 2022 UK highway code rule on giving way to pedestrians at side roads: A naturalistic observation study","authors":"Sarah E. O’Toole , Nicola Christie , Damian Poulter","doi":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100140","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100140","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The 2022 update to the UK Highway Code introduced a new H2 rule granting pedestrians right of way at side road junctions. However, the communication campaign for this change was limited and there has yet to be a systematic evaluation of driver compliance. This study therefore involved a naturalistic observation of driver yielding behaviour when turning from a main road into a side road. A total of 809 driver-pedestrian interactions were observed to assess compliance with the rule, alongside driver, vehicle, pedestrian, and environmental characteristics. Results indicated that only 31 % of drivers complied with the rule when turning from a main road into a side road where pedestrians were approaching or waiting at a junction to cross. However, female drivers and taxi drivers were more likely to yield to pedestrians at junctions. Further, compliance was greater when there was a group of pedestrians opposed to a single pedestrian or when it was early afternoon. These findings suggest further interventions may be necessary to enhance adherence and improve pedestrian safety.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100852,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Urban Mobility","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100140"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144757487","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Journal of Urban MobilityPub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-07-20DOI: 10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100138
Gladys Nyachieo , Theodora Ndipo Charlotte Thindwa , Anthony Bert Tasosa , Paschalin Basil , Yvonne Moseti , Joel Jere
{"title":"Transport and mobility governance: Uncovering barriers to walking infrastructure decision-making processes in urban areas in Kenya and Malawi","authors":"Gladys Nyachieo , Theodora Ndipo Charlotte Thindwa , Anthony Bert Tasosa , Paschalin Basil , Yvonne Moseti , Joel Jere","doi":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100138","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100138","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examined the barriers to implementing walking infrastructure in Kisii Town, Kenya, and Mzuzu City, Malawi. The inter-country research was motivated by evidence of high pedestrian fatalities in these two cities, among other mobility challenges. It focused on smaller, rapidly growing urban centres where early interventions could drive meaningful improvements in overall urban governance, thereby enhancing transport planning and financing. Additionally, the study aimed to address the scarcity of literature on this subject, which remains limited in Africa, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where little research has been conducted on decision-making and the implementation of walking infrastructure in urban areas. The findings reveal that decision-making for walking infrastructure faces numerous challenges. The study recommends taking deliberate steps to improve walking infrastructure, as walking remains the preferred mode of transport for the majority of urban residents in sub-Saharan Africa due to prevailing economic conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100852,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Urban Mobility","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100138"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144665571","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Exploring capacity building in local governance to implement inclusive digital mobility services","authors":"Lluis Martinez , Andrea Capaccioli , Mihajlo Djukic , Hannah Hook , Samyajit Basu","doi":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100147","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100147","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As urban mobility systems become increasingly digitalised, local governments face growing expectations to integrate and regulate digital mobility services. However, ensuring these services are inclusive and accessible to all community members poses significant challenges, often stemming from a lack of knowledge or support for public officials. This study investigates how the local governance capacities can be enhanced to implement inclusive digital mobility services, using a case study of a knowledge brokerage initiative in Čačak, Serbia. Data were collected from 5 March to 4 April 2024 through semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and questionnaire surveys involving local and visiting public officials during a two-day workshop. The findings indicate that local capacity-building efforts must be tailored to the specificities of each case, and put forward methods that are accessible and low-effort. Moreover, participatory governance approaches are considered essential to enhancing local governance capacities, emphasising the need for effective engagement with diverse stakeholders. Local officials, in collaboration with community representatives, private sector actors, and civil society organisations, play a central role in co-developing and implementing policies that promote digital solutions adapted to the diverse needs of individuals. The primary contribution of this research lies in its critical exploration of strategies to strengthen local governance capacities for inclusive digital mobility, addressing a crucial gap in urban mobility research and practice. Furthermore, the study offers actionable insights and strategies relevant to policymakers and practitioners interested in mitigating inequalities in access to digital mobility services.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100852,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Urban Mobility","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100147"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145059978","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Journal of Urban MobilityPub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-11-22DOI: 10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100170
Sepideh Khorramisarvestani , Pierre Gauthier , Ursula Eicker
{"title":"Exploring sustainable accessibility through multimodal networks: Assessing healthy food access in Montreal","authors":"Sepideh Khorramisarvestani , Pierre Gauthier , Ursula Eicker","doi":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100170","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100170","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Equitable access to essential amenities is crucial for sustainable urban areas, yet achieving it remains challenging in North American cities characterized by car-centric development and sprawling urban patterns. This paper investigates how multimodal transportation networks reshape access to “Healthy Food Establishments (HFEs)” in Montreal. Using high-resolution block-level data, verified HFE locations, and multimodal routing with the r5r engine, we model three accessibility scenarios: walking-only, cycling-only, and combined active travel plus transit. Accessibility is measured through a cumulative-opportunity and gravity-based metric, capturing temporal thresholds and the variety of destinations. Our analysis reveals significant disparities in food accessibility under walking-only conditions, with nearly half of Montreal residents lacking adequate access within a strict 10-minute timeframe. Cycling considerably improves accessibility, yet the highest levels of equitable access are only achieved through integrated multimodal scenarios that combine active transportation and public transit. Our results underscore the importance of planning multimodal transit nodes that facilitate integrated trip-chaining, emphasizing the need for policy interventions that prioritize continuous, low-stress cycling infrastructure, high-frequency transit services, and clustered essential amenities to bridge accessibility gaps in underserved areas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100852,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Urban Mobility","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100170"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145622823","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Journal of Urban MobilityPub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-11-25DOI: 10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100166
Andrii Galkina
{"title":"15-minute protection as an applied 15-minute city indicator: A data‑driven metric and scenario engine for protective accessibility in Kharkiv","authors":"Andrii Galkina","doi":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100166","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100166","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Conventional 15 min city (15MC) metrics focus on everyday amenity access and are not designed for minute-scale threats. We introduce 15 min protection (15MP) as an applied extension of 15MC: a network-based indicator of pedestrian reachability to shelters. Using Kharkiv, Ukraine, as a case study, we develop a scenario engine that maps walking isochrones to shelters across three states: pre-invasion, full-scale invasion with a power supplied, and “blackout”. The analysis integrates municipal shelter inventories, open street networks, and Transport Analysis Zones (TAZs). We propose the Protective Accessibility Progression Classification (PAPrC), a four-class typology that assigns each TAZ an auditable state based on the share of its area within a 15 min pedestrian isochrone to a structurally adequate shelter. This enables city planners and SUMP monitors to diagnose territorial adequacy and track progress toward protective accessibility goals. By aligning PAPrC (A-D Classes) with Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) indicators, we demonstrate how 15MP can inform resilience-oriented planning, translating proximity from a livability metric into a life-safety standard. The approach provides a reproducible, open-data workflow for other cities seeking to integrate protective accessibility into proximity-based planning under crisis conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100852,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Urban Mobility","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100166"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145622824","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Journal of Urban MobilityPub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-09-27DOI: 10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100154
Marta Luz Arango Uribe , Julián Sánchez Corredor , Cristian David Correa-Álvarez
{"title":"Social impacts and road safety in intermodality: Case study of the Ayacucho Tram in Medellín-Colombia","authors":"Marta Luz Arango Uribe , Julián Sánchez Corredor , Cristian David Correa-Álvarez","doi":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100154","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100154","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study evaluates the social impact and road safety implications of intermodality between the Ayacucho Tram and active transport in Medellín-Colombia. The analysis is based on a mixed-methods approach, combining open data on road incidents (2008–2023) with a 2024 user survey to assess key metrics including accessibility, safety perceptions, and satisfaction. A logistic regression model was employed to determine the main predictors of perceived accessibility improvements. The model identifies three user characteristics as key predictors of a positive perception of improved accessibility: being male, having a higher educational level, and using walking as a primary mode of transport. These findings highlight the Ayacucho Tram as a key axis of urban connectivity that supports intermodality with active mobility — particularly cycling — while also revealing persistent concerns related to road safety, especially in cycling infrastructure. This intermodal integration enhances travel times, connectivity, and access, contributing to sustainable urban mobility in Medellín and offering a comprehensive perspective on the interaction between public transport and active mobility.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100852,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Urban Mobility","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100154"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145157317","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Journal of Urban MobilityPub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-11-20DOI: 10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100165
Arkar Than Win, John D. Nelson, Chinh Ho
{"title":"Perceptions of autonomous vehicles among older adults and people with physical disability","authors":"Arkar Than Win, John D. Nelson, Chinh Ho","doi":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100165","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100165","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fully Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) capable of performing all driving functions represent a significant advancement in transportation technology. AVs are increasingly regarded as a promising transport solution for older adults and people with physical disabilities. However, previous literature shows that these groups present low intention to use AVs. This contradiction between potential benefits and low intention to use AVs highlights the need for deeper understanding of the factors influencing intention to use amongst these groups, particularly their attitudes. The Technology Acceptance Model suggests attitudes are shaped by perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. Yet, in-depth research into these group’s perceptions of AVs remains limited. This study explores the underlying beliefs that shape perceptions of private autonomous vehicles (PAVs), shared autonomous vehicles (SAVs) and autonomous public transport (APT) among older adults (≥65) and people with physical disabilities in New South Wales, Australia. Based on focus groups, supplemented by interviews, this study found that perceptions are shaped not only by beliefs about AVs themselves, but also by beliefs associated with their human-driven counterparts. The introduction of self-driving technology is perceived as enhancing private transport, making PAVs more useful and easier to use than human-driven private cars. In the shared and public transport contexts, the introduction of self-driving technology is perceived as replacing human elements – assistance, information, reassurance, and supervision – making SAVs and APT less useful and more difficult to use than human-driven taxis and buses. Based on these findings, this study provides recommendations to promote AV acceptance among older adults and people with physical disabilities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100852,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Urban Mobility","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100165"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145578626","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}