Iginio Rossi, Francesco Sbetti INU – URBIT
In recent years, the promotion of active mobility has gained increasing importance in the development of policies, strategies, tools, practices and solutions aimed at improving people’s well-being and, consequently, public health, generating positive impacts on healthcare systems and public health more broadly. Yet these issues still have a relatively limited presence within political agendas and socio-cultural frameworks.
From this integrated perspective, the efficiency and liveability of cities and territories also depend on mobility networks that involve the physical activity of the people using them. For active mobility to “work”, it must, of course, be integrated into a broader framework of sustainable mobility, capable of connecting walking, pedestrian routes and trails, cycling, railways and local public transport. At the same time, it needs to be embedded in policies capable of influencing models and lifestyles that are more attentive to both environmental sustainability and health.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines active mobility as a “win-win” strategy and has long been committed to promoting it. This includes recommending at least 150–300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity per week; highlighting the health and environmental benefits of active mobility, including reduced risks of cardiovascular disease, improved mental health and increased life expectancy; emphasizing environmental benefits through reduced greenhouse gas emissions and improved air quality; and identifying key strategies for its promotion, including the development of safe infrastructure—such as pedestrian spaces and cycle lanes—and awareness campaigns encouraging active lifestyles.
Through its Epicentro portal, the Italian National Institute of Health (Istituto Superiore di Sanità – ISS) has developed a public health epidemiological monitoring programme. Each year, the ISS publishes data from the PASSI surveillance system, which monitors a range of health-related behaviours among people aged 18–69 in Italy, including active mobility. The system provides indicators on active mobility in general, walking and cycling for everyday trips, as well as on the proportion of people reaching the physical activity levels recommended by the WHO.
At the national level, in the 2023–2024 period, 42% of respondents reported engaging in active mobility, meaning that they had travelled by bicycle and/or on foot to work, school or for everyday journeys during the month preceding the interview. Compared with the WHO threshold of 150 minutes of physical activity per week, 19% were physically active through active mobility alone, 22% were partially active, while the remaining 59% travelled by motorised vehicles (private or public), with no or negligible walking or cycling.
The PASSI data also make it possible to further profile these patterns according to different socio-demographic characteristics. The proportion of people reaching the WHO-recommended levels of physical activity through active mobility is higher among younger age groups (18–24), women, people with higher levels of education, foreign nationals, and residents of Northern Italy compared with the rest of the country.
The data can also be broken down by region, providing information on habitual cycling and walking and active mobility practices. Emilia-Romagna, Trento and Bolzano perform particularly strongly across all four dimensions. Liguria and Piemonte stand out in three, excluding cycling. Sardinia, Marche and Molise stand out for walking and active mobility, while Veneto performs strongly in both active mobility and active mobility practices. Tuscany stands out specifically for cycling.
Within the WHO framework, and drawing on a national perspective as well as selected regional and local good practices, the meeting proposed by Urbanpromo will explore the practices and approaches aimed at bridging the effectiveness of urban environments with improvements in collective well-being through active mobility.
It is therefore useful to identify and examine the approach and positioning of the public authorities responsible for mobility governance, as well as the policies, strategies, tools and solutions they are implementing, together with those of the other public and private stakeholders involved.
PROGRAMME
14:30 Opening
Introduced and chaired by
Iginio Rossi, INU – URBIT
14:45 Part One
Public Health, People’s Well-Being and Urban Efficiency
Speakers
“Active Mobility in Italy: Data from the PASSI Surveillance System”
Valentina Possenti, National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (CNaPPS), Italian National Institute of Health
“Active Mobility: Strategies and Practices for Urban Planning”
Francesco Sbetti, INU
15:25 Part Two
Mobility, Public Spaces, Accessibility, Promotion and an Integrated Vision
Speakers
“Italian Railway Stations: Connectivity, Accessibility, Inclusion and Projects – The Cases of Lecce and Giovinazzo Stations”
Renata Verghini, Head of Planning and Development of Network Access Points, Strategy, Sustainability and Infrastructure Development Planning Directorate, RFI
Simona Cristofari, Head of Planning and Development of Station Services and Accessibility, Strategy, Sustainability and Infrastructure Development Planning Directorate, RFI
Roberto Laghezza, Head of Development and Infrastructure for the Central and Southern Adriatic Area, Strategy, Sustainability and Infrastructure Development Planning Directorate, RFI
“Promoting Active Mobility for Commuting, with Reference to the Regional Health Plan and Law: The BikeToWork Experience in Emilia-Romagna”
Alessandro Meggiato, Transport, Infrastructure and Sustainable Mobility Sector, Emilia-Romagna Region
“Measures for Sustainable Mobility in Regional Planning: Reducing the External Costs and Environmental Impact of Transport”
Enrico Becattini, Mobility, Infrastructure and Local Public Transport Directorate, Tuscany Region
16:30 Break
16:45 Part Three
Active Mobility, Public Transport, Infrastructure Safety and Promotion
Speakers
“The Role of Perceived Accessibility in the Decision to Walk: A Case Study in the Metropolitan City of Cagliari”
Francesco Piras and Italo Meloni, Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Cagliari
“Policies and Vision for Sustainable Mobility”
Cristiano Spiller, Councillor for Public Works and Mobility, Municipality of Vicenza Carlo Andriolo, Director of the Mobility, Transport and Infrastructure Department, Municipality of Vicenza
“Health Cycle Route: Environment, Sport and Nutrition to Discover the Region and Promote Slow Tourism”
Giovanni Aramini, Natural Heritage Protection – Parks and Protected Natural Areas, Calabria Region
“The City for People: Policies for Urban Well-Being”
Giovanna Cepparello, Councillor for Mobility, Urban Space Care, Waste Management, PEBA and Accessibility, and Food Policies, Municipality of Livorno
Discussion and Closing Remarks
18:30 Closing of proceedings
Italiano
Contributions