Co-Creating Accessibility-Centred Mobility Strategies in Low-Density Suburban Contexts: Evidence from Coimbra, Portugal

Promoting and increasing sustainable mobility has become more of a focus in transport and mobility policies and plans. However, challenges remain in its implementation in low-density urban areas, which are usually highly dependent on private motorised transport. This study investigates how local actors and citizens in a low-density suburban area perceive the main mobility challenges and opportunities, contributing empirical evidence on how collaborative planning operationalises accessibility-oriented mobility models in low-density suburban territories, an under-researched context in sustainable mobility. It also examines how co-creation processes contribute to identifying barriers and priorities and to what extent proximity-based concepts such as the 15-Minute City, Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), and Mobility as a Service (MaaS) can be reinterpreted for low-density suburban realities. The methodological approach involved three focus groups with local actors and citizens to identify barriers, priorities, and strategies through collective discussion and co-creation. This process resulted in an agreement on eight (8) co-created strategies, revealing convergence towards promoting active modes and public transport and emphasising that accessibility depends on territorial redesign, digital integration, and inclusive governance. The findings contribute to the empirical evidence that participatory and context-sensitive approaches can enable sustainable mobility transitions in suburban areas by efficiently meeting people’s needs and aspirations.