Innovative policies and practices for sustainable rural mobility across Europe

Authors

  • Muhammad Junaid DICEA, Department of Construction, Civil Engineering and Architecture - Università Politecnica delle Marche
  • Maddalena Ferretti DICEA, Department of Construction, Civil Engineering and Architecture - Università Politecnica delle Marche
  • Giovanni Marinelli SIMAU, Department of Science and Engineering of Matter, Environment and Urban Planning - Università Politecnica delle Marche https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3705-5251

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6093/1970-9870/13322

Keywords:

Rural areas, Sustainable mobility, Mobility innovation

Abstract

European rural regions are of immense significance to agricultural production, tourism, as well as the preservation of nature, but are highly inadequately served with regard to transport infrastructure, thereby contributing to their socio-economic exclusion. The current study, designed in accordance with the Romanian PON “Research and Innovation 2014-2020,” takes a comprehensive approach to case study research on innovative mobility practices in rural regions across Europe, incorporating both scientific literature and grey literature. The results indicate an assortment of rural transport practices of an inclusive nature, giving prime consideration to flexibility, social interaction, and mobility. In addition, the study points to an increasing epistemic relevance of grey literature in defining mobility innovation, with a pivotal focus on spatial planning in sustainable transport policy development for rural regions.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Muhammad Junaid, DICEA, Department of Construction, Civil Engineering and Architecture - Università Politecnica delle Marche

He is a transportation planning researcher specializing in sustainable and inclusive mobility, with a particular focus on rural areas. He holds a PhD in Transportation Planning from the Polytechnic University of Marche, Italy, where his research addressed accessibility, ecological transition, and mobility challenges in European rural regions. His work combines geospatial analysis, mixed-methods research, and policy evaluation to develop practical guidelines for reducing transport poverty and social exclusion. He has published in peer-reviewed international journals and conferences has research experience in Europe and Asia.

Maddalena Ferretti, DICEA, Department of Construction, Civil Engineering and Architecture - Università Politecnica delle Marche

She is an Architect, international PhD (IUAV), Associate Professor of Architectural and Urban Design at the Università Politecnica delle Marche (Ancona, Italy) and Dean of Studies of the Degree Programme in Building Engineering–Architecture (2021–present). She served as Scientific Coordinator (P.I.) of the project Branding4Resilience (2020–2024) and as a postdoctoral researcher at Leibniz University Hannover (2012–2017), where she currently holds a part-time Associate Professorship at the Faculty of Architecture and Landscape (2025–2030). Her scientific and design research, awarded in competitions and competitive calls, places architectural and urban design at the core as a tool for the regeneration and transformation of marginal contexts and inner territories, combined with a trans-scalar approach. Her work also focuses on the reuse of the built heritage through a circular, creative, and place- and history-sensitive approach. Maddalena Ferretti coordinates research projects and publishes their results at both national and international levels.

Giovanni Marinelli, SIMAU, Department of Science and Engineering of Matter, Environment and Urban Planning - Università Politecnica delle Marche

He is an Associate Professor of Urban Planning and Design at Marche Polytechnic University (UNIVPM). Since 2020, he has been Scientific Director of a research laboratory in the Urban Planning Division SIMAU Department, Faculty of Engineering, coordinating applied research with local authorities and institutions. Research fields: Urban Plans and Planning instruments, Landscape and Green Infrastructure planning, territorial fragility analysis, preparedness and post-earthquake reconstruction plans.

References

Alonso-González, M. J., Liu, T., Cats, O., van Oort, N., & Hoogendoorn, S. (2018). The potential of demand-responsive transport as a complement to public transport: An assessment framework and an empirical evaluation. Transportation Research Record, 2672, 879-889. https://doi.org/10.1177/0361198118790842

Averill, J. B. (2012). Priorities for action in a rural older adults study. Family & Community Health, 35(4), 358-372. https://doi.org/10.1097/fch.0b013e318266686e

Banister, D. (2008). The sustainable mobility paradigm. Transport Policy, 15, 73-80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2007.10.005

Banister, D., Lucas, K., & Schwanen, T. (2008). Developing sustainable mobility in rural areas. Transport Policy, 15(4), 199-204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2008.02.006

Bauchinger, L., Reichenberger, A., Goodwin-Hawkins, B., Kobal, J., Hrabar, M., & Oedl-Wieser, T. (2021). Developing sustainable and flexible rural–urban connectivity through complementary mobility services. Sustainability, 13, 1280. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13031280

Carvalho, D., Rodrigues, A., Rodrigues, M., Teoh, T., Tanis, J., Matthews, B., Gomes, R., & Costa, C. (2020). Mapping accessible transport for persons with reduced mobility. European Union. Retrieved from: https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/ 48900136-3b63-11eb-b27b-01aa75ed71a1

Choi, Y., Nam, K., & Kim, C. Y. (2019). Association between convenience of transportation and unmet healthcare needs of rural elderly in Korea. Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, 52, 355-365. https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.19.172

Cohen, B., & Kietzmann, J. (2014). Ride on! Mobility business models for the sharing economy. Organization & Environment, 27(3), 279-296. https://doi.org/10.1177/1086026614546199

Copus, A., & Dax, T. (2010). Conceptual background and priorities of European rural development policy (Deliverable 1.2). FP7 RuDI Project.

Cottrill, C. D., Brooke, S., Mulley, C., Nelson, J. D., & Wright, S. (2020). Can multi-modal integration provide enhanced public transport service provision to address the needs of vulnerable populations? Research in Transport Economics, 83, 100954. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.retrec.2020.100954

Dax, T., & Fischer, M. (2018). An alternative policy approach to rural development in regions facing population decline. European Planning Studies, 26(2), 297-315. https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2017.1361596

Dax, T., Copus, A., Shucksmith, M., & Meredith, D. (2011). Cohesion policy for rural areas after 2013. Studies in Agricultural Economics, 113, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.7896/j.1113

European Commission (2014). Regional and urban policy regional working paper 2014 a Harmonised. Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/work/2014_01_new_urban.pdf (Accessed: 28 January 2026).

European Commission (2019). Handbook on the external costs of transport. Retrieved from: https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/9781f65f-8448-11ea-bf12-01aa75ed71a1 (Accessed: May 28, 2021)

European Commission (2021). Rural development. Agriculture and rural development. Retrieved from: https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/common-agricultural-policy/rural-development_en (Accessed: November 7, 2024)

European Commission (2023a). Bridging urban-rural transport divides. Urban Mobility Observatory. Retrieved from: https://urban-mobility-observatory.transport.ec.europa.eu/news-events/news/bridging-urban-rural-transport-divides-2023-03-29_en (Accessed: March 29, 2023)

European Commission (2023b). Smart villages and rural mobility. European Network for Rural Development. Retrieved from: https://ec.europa.eu/enrd/news-events/news/smart-villages-and-rural-mobility_en.html (Accessed: March 29, 2023)

European Environment Agency (2020). Transport: Increasing oil consumption and greenhouse gas emissions hamper EU progress. Retrieved from: https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/publications/transport-increasing-oil-consumption-and (Accessed: October 21, 2020)

European Union (2014). A harmonised definition of cities and rural areas. Retrieved from: https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/work/2014_01_new_urban.pdf (Accessed: July 27, 2025)

European Union (2020a). Territorial Agenda 2030 – A future for all places.

European Union (2020b). Sustainable and smart mobility strategy.

Ferrero, F., Perboli, G., Rosano, M., & Vesco, A. (2018). Car-sharing services: An annotated review. Sustainable Cities and Society, 37, 501-518. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2017.09.020

Fyhri, A., Hjorthol, R., Mackett, R. L., Fotel, T. N., & Kyttä, M. (2011). Children’s active travel and independent mobility in four countries: Development, social contributing trends and measures. Transport Policy, 18(5), 703-710. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2011.01.005

Gillis, M., Hernandez, M., & Walton, L. (2016). Tourism and transport in rural regions: Balancing the needs of locals and visitors. Journal of Rural Studies, 47, 106-115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2016.06.004

Habibipour, A., Lindberg, J., Runardotter, M., Elmistikawy, Y., Ståhlbrost, A., & Chronéer, D. (2021). Rural living labs: inclusive digital transformation in the countryside. Technology Innovation Management Review, 11, 59–72. https://doi.org/10.22215/timreview/1465

Hantson, M., Caset, F., Boussauw, K., Keblowski, W. (2023). Understanding the role of on-demand public transport in low-density regions: Insights from Flanders. In Tampere, C., Cools, M., & Proost, S. (Eds.). Proceedings of the BIVEC-GIBET Transport Research Days 2023, 414-430. Leuven: BIVEC-GIBET

Herzog, I. (2023). Urban-rural justice. Journal of Political Philosphy, 31, 233-253. https://doi.org/10.1111/jopp.12297

Holden, E., Gilpin, G., & Banister, D. (2019). Sustainable mobility at thirty. Sustainability, 11(7), 1965. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11071965

Jochem, P., Frankenhausen, D., Ewald, L., Ensslen, A., & Fromm, H. (2020). Does free-floating carsharing reduce private vehicle ownership? The case of SHARE NOW in European cities. Transportation Research Part A, 141, 373-395. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2020.09.016

International Energy Agency (2022). Transport: Improving sustainability of passenger and freight transport.

Karjalainen, L. E., & Juhola, S. (2021). Urban transportation sustainability assessments: A systematic review of literature. Transport Reviews, 41(5), 659-684. https://doi.org/10.1080/01441647.2021.1879309

Marsden, G., Kimble, M., Nellthorp, J., & Kelly, K. (2010). Sustainability assessment: The definition deficit. International Journal of Sustainable Transportation, 4(4), 189-211. https://doi.org/10.1080/15568310902825699

Martiskainen, M., Sovacool, B.K., Lacey-Barnacle, M., Hopkins, D., Jenkins, K.E.H., Simcock, N., Mattioli, G., & Bouzarovski, S. (2021). New dimensions of vulnerability to energy and transport poverty. Joule 5(1), 3-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2020.11.016

Mattioli, G. (2021). Transport poverty and car dependence. In R.H.M. Pereira & G. Boisjoly (Eds.), Advances in Transport Policy and Planning. Academic Press.

Mounce, R., Beecroft, M., & Nelson, J. D. (2020). Frameworks and smart mobility for rural areas. Research in Transport Economics, 83, 100956. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.retrec.2020.100956

Narayanan, S., & Antoniou, C. (2023). Shared mobility services towards MaaS. Transportation Research Part A, 168, 103581. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2023.103581

Næss, P., Xue, J., Stefansdottir, H., Steffansen, R., & Richardson, T. (2019). Second-home mobility and climate impacts. Journal of Transport Geography, 79, 102468. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2019.102468

OECD (2020). Rural well-being: Geography of opportunities. OECD Publishing. Retrieved from: https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2020/10/rural-well-being_8d2d0140/d25cef80-en.pdf

OECD (2002). The impact of transport infrastructure investment on regional development. Retrieved from: https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2002/05/impact-of-transport-infrastructure-investment-on-regional-development_g1gh2082/9789264193529-en.pdf

Pérez-Peña, M. D., Jiménez-García, M., Ruiz-Chico, J., & Peña-Sánchez, A. R. (2021). Transport poverty and sustainability. Sustainability, 13(3), 1451. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13031451

Reneland-Forsman, I. (2018). Borrowed access and digital participation. International Journal of Lifelong Education, 37(3), 333-344. https://doi.org/ 10.1080/02601370.2018.1473516

Simcock, N., Jenkins, K., Lacey-Barnacle, M., Martiskainen, M., Mattioli, G., & Hopkins, D. (2021). Identifying double energy vulnerability: A systematic and narrative review of groups at-risk of energy and transport poverty in the global north. Energy Research & Social Science, 82, 102351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2021.102351

Wright, S. (2013). Designing flexible transport services: guidelines for choosing the vehicle type. Transportation Planning and Technology, 36(1), 76–92. https://doi.org/10.1080/03081060.2012.745757

Downloads

Published

30-03-2026

How to Cite

Junaid, M., Ferretti, M., & Marinelli, G. (2026). Innovative policies and practices for sustainable rural mobility across Europe. TeMA - Journal of Land Use, Mobility and Environment, (1), 133–148. https://doi.org/10.6093/1970-9870/13322

Issue

No. 1 (2026): Living and Walking in Cities: Mobility, Public Space and Spatial Justice

Section

SI 2026. Living and Walking in Cities

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Muhammad Junaid, Maddalena Ferretti, Giovanni Marinelli

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

  

Similar Articles

<< < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.