Mobility in Italy, something has changed
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COMPANIES AND STAKEHOLDERS RENEW THEIR CONFIDENCE IN NME: EXHIBITION’S SECOND EDITION BECOMES THE FOCAL POINT IN ITALY FOR DISCUSSIONS ON GREEN PUBLIC TRANSPORT

READ THE PRESS RELEASE
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COMPANIES AND STAKEHOLDERS RENEW THEIR CONFIDENCE IN NME: EXHIBITION’S SECOND EDITION BECOMES THE FOCAL POINT IN ITALY FOR DISCUSSIONS ON GREEN PUBLIC TRANSPORT

READ THE PRESS RELEASE

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Mobility in Italy, something has changed
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Sustainable mobility in Italy is showing signs of growth: the population is starting to integrate alternative modes of transport to the use of the private car.

Public transport and sustainable mobility in Italy are facing significant challenges, but some recent trends offer reasons for optimism. Although the data highlight the gap compared to the European average, signs of improvement are emerging as are opportunities to build a fairer and more sustainable mobility system.

According to the 2024 CNEL Report on Public Administration services, Italy must overcome a significant infrastructural gap compared to the main European countries. The provision of underground railways, tram networks and suburban railways stand respectively at 40%, 53.7% and 56%, compared to the EU average. However, these shortcomings also represent a development opportunity to improve the efficiency of local public transport (LPT). The ratio of LPT workers to population, equal to 11.3 workers per 10,000 inhabitants, also shows room for improvement.

Despite the gap compared to countries such as Germany (25.8) and the United Kingdom (21.7), there are positive signs especially in some urban areas. In the North-West, for example, public transport covers 10.3% of trips, more than double compared to Southern Italy (4.3%). As emerges from the 21st Audimob Report by Isfort, produced in collaboration with the CNEL, sustainable mobility in Italy is showing signs of growth. In the first half of 2024, an overall improvement of almost 3 points was observed compared to the same period in 2023. Walking trips increased by 2.4%, followed by a slight increase in the use of bicycles and micromobility (+0.3%) and public transport (+0.2%).

These data demonstrate that the population is starting to integrate more sustainable modes of transport into their daily habits, contributing to a progressive reduction in the use of private cars, which fell by 2.5%. Even if modal rebalancing is still far away, the change is underway. Italian public transport has a key role in the ecological transition. The data shows that there is still a long way to go, but initiatives to promote local public transport and sustainable mobility can transform challenges into opportunities. Investing in infrastructure, improving the efficiency of services and encouraging intermodality are essential steps for achieving this goal. With 63.1% of journeys still linked to the use of private cars, there is room for ambitious policies that aim to reduce people’s dependence on four wheels, by promoting more sustainable alternatives.

The growth in walking and cycling, albeit slight, is an encouraging sign, as is the increase in the use of public transport. The gap with Europe can be filled through constant commitment and the involvement of all actors, from institutions to citizens. 2024 marks the beginning of a cultural and infrastructural change, with the aim of making Italian mobility more inclusive, modern and sustainable.