“Smart” Planning to Enhance Nonmotorised and Safe Mobility in Today’s Cities

The objective of “smart” planners is to improve the quality of life in today’s cities. That quality is not only a matter of land use, urban design and density, it is also largely linked to mobility patterns. Urban mobility should take place in comfortable and safe conditions for all users, satisfying people’s expectations (especially those of vulnerable users) and the right to move. The paper aims to merge safety and quality of public spaces as an inextricable scenario for a better quality of life in our cities. Past research developed on nonmotorised mobility will be reviewed, in order to address the topic of vulnerable users’ safety from a more comprehensive perspective. Designing streets to balance the needs of diverse users is proposed as the key to shape an enticing environment that ensures access, safety, comfort, and enjoyment for everyone.

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