A Thematic Analysis of Green Commuting and Accessibility in Urban Historic Districts

Urban heritage districts, which preserve rich cultural, architectural, and social histories, often face the dual challenge of protecting their historical value while accommodating modern mobility needs driven by urbanization and changing lifestyles. However, there is a growing disconnect between mobility infrastructure and actual accessibility has emerged in urban heritage districts, particularly affecting vulnerable groups. This thematic review aims to analyze the key challenges related to mobility and accessibility in urban heritage districts, with a focus on elderly individuals, persons with disabilities, parents with strollers, and those with limited mobility. It also seeks to review existing literature on mobility and accessibility in urban heritage districts, and identify conceptual and empirical research gaps that need to be addressed. Additionally, this study proposes future research directions aimed at supporting more inclusive and sustainable mobility planning in historic urban environments. Based on a thematic analysis of 21 selected research papers, five key themes were identified: sustainable mobility and green transport, walkability and accessibility, transport infrastructure and planning, socioeconomic and behavioral factors, and urban heritage and cultural preservation. The findings show that while there is growing support for green commuting, major gaps remain in infrastructure, policy integration, and stakeholder engagement. Conflicts between heritage preservation, inclusive mobility needs, underdeveloped accessibility infrastructure, fragmented planning, and lack of participatory approaches also limit progress. This research highlights the urgent need for better policy coordination, inclusive planning, reliable data collection, and cross-sectoral strategies to balance modern mobility needs with heritage preservation in order to create more accessible, resilient, and sustainable environments.