City coordination for multi-regime interaction towards sustainability transition in urban mobility systems: an Italian case study

Decarbonizing transportation is one of the most important global priorities for mitigating the consequences of climate change. Cities are key actors in the low-carbon mobility transition, as their shift towards sustainability will significantly influence the trajectory of this transition. Through a qualitative analysis of the mobility plans of all Italian provincial capitals, this study sheds light on the role of cities in coordinating multi-regime interaction within the sustainability transition of the urban mobility system. More specifically, it highlights how these institutions are working to destabilize the automobility regime, support more sustainable mobility regimes, and accelerate and stimulate niches and inter-regime niche innovations. Despite significant similarities in the instruments cities plan to implement, a cluster analysis revealed that modal split scenarios for 2030 vary substantially across cities, often reflecting baseline modal splits of different mobility regimes currently operating in the urban context. These differences may increase in the long term. • Two new urban policy intervention points have been identified: Supporting a regime considered more sustainable but not currently representing the highest share of urban mobility demand (i.e., public transport and active and sharing mobility regimes); Accelerating inter-regime niche innovation. • Certain urban intervention points might address multiple mobility regimes. • Four mobility clusters of cities emerged based on modal split targets by 2030: Active & Sharing Mobility cities; Public Mobility cities; Public, Active & Sharing Mobility cities; and Automobility cities. • The modal split targets are related to their corresponding modal split baselines.