IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i14p11328-d1198764.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Designing Urban Spaces to Enhance Active and Sustainable Mobility: An Analysis of Physical and Symbolic Affordances in School Squares in the Metropolitan Area of Milan, Italy

Author

Listed:
  • Federica Bianchi

    (Department of Architecture and Urban Studies, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy)

  • Dafni Riga

    (Department of Architecture and Urban Studies, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy)

  • Rossella Moscarelli

    (Department of Architecture and Urban Studies, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy)

  • Paolo Pileri

    (Department of Architecture and Urban Studies, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy)

Abstract

As thresholds to cities, public spaces adjacent to schools play an important role in children’s everyday mobilities, potentially shaping their future mobility habits and affective experiences. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the urban design conditions of such spaces, defined as “school squares”, and, with the aid of affordance theory, to analyze spatial features and characteristics that might encourage or hinder active and sustainable mobility practices. In the first part of the paper, we define sustainable mobility, conduct a literature review on affective responses to the urban environment, and discuss active school travel (AST) in relation to the design of school squares. By focusing on 416 primary and lower secondary schools in the metropolitan area of Milan, we present an assessment method that is composed of on-desk and on-site surveys. In particular, Phase 1 defines the type of school squares, Phase 2 investigates physical affordances (spatial features and characteristics that directly influence active mobility practices, such as bicycle racks, protective barriers, benches, and parked cars), and Phase 3 discusses symbolic affordances (elements and characteristics that might induce different affective responses to a school square with regard to active mobility, such as bicycle racks, parked cars, greenery, and dustbins). The results indicate that in most cases school squares are characterized by typological confusion that has nothing to do with the school environment: narrow sidewalks, disorder, and low levels of safety. In order to promote active and sustainable mobility choices and enhance children’s mobile experiences, it is necessary to address the aforementioned features. The ultimate goal of this paper is to provide insights for developing an urban regeneration framework that considers school squares a safe context and a starting point from which to perform sustainable mobility practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Federica Bianchi & Dafni Riga & Rossella Moscarelli & Paolo Pileri, 2023. "Designing Urban Spaces to Enhance Active and Sustainable Mobility: An Analysis of Physical and Symbolic Affordances in School Squares in the Metropolitan Area of Milan, Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-17, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:14:p:11328-:d:1198764
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/14/11328/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/14/11328/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Karina Pont & David Wadley & Jenny Ziviani & Asad Khan, 2013. "The Influence of Urban Form and Family Decision Making on Children's Travel to School," Journal of Urban Design, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(3), pages 363-382, August.
    2. Raffler, Clemens & Brezina, Tadej & Emberger, Günter, 2019. "Cycling investment expedience: Energy expenditure based Cost-Path Analysis of national census bicycle commuting data," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 360-373.
    3. Maria Johansson & Catharina Sternudd & Mattias Kärrholm, 2016. "Perceived urban design qualities and affective experiences of walking," Journal of Urban Design, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(2), pages 256-275, April.
    4. Stewart, Orion & Vernez Moudon, Anne & Claybrooke, Charlotte, 2012. "Common ground: Eight factors that influence walking and biking to school," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 240-248.
    5. Assunçao-Denis, Marie-Ève & Tomalty, Ray, 2019. "Increasing cycling for transportation in Canadian communities: Understanding what works," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 288-304.
    6. Rodrigo Scotini & Ian Skinner & Francesca Racioppi & Virginia Fusé & Jonas De Oliveira Bertucci & Rie Tsutsumi, 2017. "Supporting Active Mobility and Green Jobs through the Promotion of Cycling," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-13, December.
    7. Anable, Jillian & Gatersleben, Birgitta, 2005. "All work and no play? The role of instrumental and affective factors in work and leisure journeys by different travel modes," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 39(2-3), pages 163-181.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Koo, Tay T.R. & Wu, Cheng-Lung (Richard) & Dwyer, Larry, 2010. "Ground travel mode choices of air arrivals at regional destinations: The significance of tourism attributes and destination contexts," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 26(1), pages 44-53.
    2. Lois, David & López-Sáez, Mercedes, 2009. "The relationship between instrumental, symbolic and affective factors as predictors of car use: A structural equation modeling approach," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 43(9-10), pages 790-799, November.
    3. Xiaohong Wu & Ivan Ka Wai Lai, 2022. "The use of 360-degree virtual tours to promote mountain walking tourism: stimulus–organism–response model," Information Technology & Tourism, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 85-107, March.
    4. Anowar, Sabreena & Eluru, Naveen & Hatzopoulou, Marianne, 2017. "Quantifying the value of a clean ride: How far would you bicycle to avoid exposure to traffic-related air pollution?," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 66-78.
    5. Mohammad Rashed Hasan Polas & Ratul Kumar Saha & Mosab I. Tabash, 2022. "How does tourist perception lead to tourist hesitation? Empirical evidence from Bangladesh," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 3659-3686, March.
    6. Hickman, Robin & Chen, Chia-Lin & Chow, Andy & Saxena, Sharad, 2015. "Improving interchanges in China: the experiential phenomenon," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 175-186.
    7. Herberz, Mario & Hahnel, Ulf J.J. & Brosch, Tobias, 2020. "The importance of consumer motives for green mobility: A multi-modal perspective," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 102-118.
    8. Buys, Laurie & Miller, Evonne, 2011. "Conceptualising convenience: Transportation practices and perceptions of inner-urban high density residents in Brisbane, Australia," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 18(1), pages 289-297, January.
    9. Hamid Mostofi & Houshmand Masoumi & Hans-Liudger Dienel, 2020. "The Association between the Regular Use of ICT Based Mobility Services and the Bicycle Mode Choice in Tehran and Cairo," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-19, November.
    10. Marco Diana & Patricia Mokhtarian, 2009. "Grouping travelers on the basis of their different car and transit levels of use," Transportation, Springer, vol. 36(4), pages 455-467, July.
    11. Broberg, Anna & Sarjala, Satu, 2015. "School travel mode choice and the characteristics of the urban built environment: The case of Helsinki, Finland," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 1-10.
    12. Goletz, Mirko & Haustein, Sonja & Wolking, Christina & L’Hostis, Alain, 2020. "Intermodality in European metropolises: The current state of the art, and the results of an expert survey covering Berlin, Copenhagen, Hamburg and Paris," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 109-122.
    13. Guell, C. & Panter, J. & Jones, N.R. & Ogilvie, D., 2012. "Towards a differentiated understanding of active travel behaviour: Using social theory to explore everyday commuting," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(1), pages 233-239.
    14. Wheatley, Daniel, 2014. "Travel-to-work and subjective well-being: A study of UK dual career households," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 187-196.
    15. Morella Briceño-Avila & Ernesto Antonio Ponsot-Balaguer & Alfonso Rondón-González, 2023. "Study on Liking and Disliking in the Historical Urban Landscape of Ibarra, Ecuador," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-21, July.
    16. Elise Desjardins & Christopher D. Higgins & Darren M. Scott & Emma Apatu & Antonio Páez, 2022. "Correlates of bicycling trip flows in Hamilton, Ontario: fastest, quietest, or balanced routes?," Transportation, Springer, vol. 49(3), pages 867-895, June.
    17. Schuitema, Geertje & Anable, Jillian & Skippon, Stephen & Kinnear, Neale, 2013. "The role of instrumental, hedonic and symbolic attributes in the intention to adopt electric vehicles," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 39-49.
    18. Hoffmann, Christin & Abraham, Charles & White, Mathew P. & Skippon, Stephen M., 2020. "Ambivalent about travel mode choice? A qualitative investigation of car user and non-car user attitudes," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 323-338.
    19. Carreira, Rui & Patrício, Lia & Natal Jorge, Renato & Magee, Chris & Van Eikema Hommes, Qi, 2013. "Towards a holistic approach to the travel experience: A qualitative study of bus transportation," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 25(C), pages 233-243.
    20. Larissa Schütte & Diana Gregory-Smith, 2015. "Neutralisation and Mental Accounting in Ethical Consumption: The Case of Sustainable Holidays," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(6), pages 1-14, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:14:p:11328-:d:1198764. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.