Sustainable Mobility in Barcelona: Trends, Challenges and Policies for Urban Decarbonization

Carolina Sifuentes-Muñoz, Blanca Arellano () and Josep Roca
Additional contact information
Carolina Sifuentes-Muñoz: Centre for Land Policy and Valuations (CPSV), Barcelona School of Architecture (ETSAB), Universitat Politènica de Catalunya, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Blanca Arellano: Centre for Land Policy and Valuations (CPSV), Barcelona School of Architecture (ETSAB), Universitat Politènica de Catalunya, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Josep Roca: Centre for Land Policy and Valuations (CPSV), Barcelona School of Architecture (ETSAB), Universitat Politènica de Catalunya, 08028 Barcelona, Spain

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-26

Abstract: The Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB) has implemented various policies to reduce car use and promote more sustainable mobility. Initiatives such as superblocks, Low Emission Zones (LEZs), and the Bicivia network aim to transform the urban model in response to environmental and congestion challenges. However, the high reliance on private vehicles for intermunicipal travel, uneven infrastructure, and social resistance to certain changes remain significant issues. This study examines the evolution of mobility patterns and assesses the effectiveness of the above policies in fostering real and sustainable change. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, which combined an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) of 2011–2024 data, trend linear regression, and a comparative international analysis. The EFA identified four key structural dimensions: traditional transport infrastructure, active mobility and bus lines, public bicycles and mixed use, and transport efficiency and punctuality. The findings reveal a clear reduction in private car use and an increase in sustainable modes of transport. This indicates that there are prospects for future transformation. Nonetheless, challenges persist in intermunicipal mobility and the public acceptance of the measures. This study provides empirical and comparative evidence and emphasizes the need for integrated metropolitan governance to achieve a resilient and sustainable urban model.

Keywords: sustainable urban mobility; car-free urban model; mobility patterns; trend analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/15/6964/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/15/6964/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:15:p:6964-:d:1714464

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().