IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i15p6964-d1714464.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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

Author

Listed:
  • 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)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Carolina Sifuentes-Muñoz & Blanca Arellano & Josep Roca, 2025. "Sustainable Mobility in Barcelona: Trends, Challenges and Policies for Urban Decarbonization," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-26, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:15:p:6964-:d:1714464
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/15/6964/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/15/6964/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Francesc Magrinyà & Josep Mercadé-Aloy & Borja Ruiz-Apilánez, 2023. "Merging Green and Active Transportation Infrastructure towards an Equitable Accessibility to Green Areas: Barcelona Green Axes," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-29, April.
    2. Luca Barbarossa, 2020. "The Post Pandemic City: Challenges and Opportunities for a Non-Motorized Urban Environment. An Overview of Italian Cases," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-19, September.
    3. Mariano Gallo & Mario Marinelli, 2020. "Sustainable Mobility: A Review of Possible Actions and Policies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-39, September.
    4. Richter, Maximilian A. & Hagenmaier, Markus & Bandte, Oliver & Parida, Vinit & Wincent, Joakim, 2022. "Smart cities, urban mobility and autonomous vehicles: How different cities needs different sustainable investment strategies," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    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. Blanka Tundys & Tomasz Wiśniewski, 2023. "Smart Mobility for Smart Cities—Electromobility Solution Analysis and Development Directions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-20, February.
    2. Bruno Marques & Jacqueline McIntosh & Chitrakala Muthuveerappan & Krzysztof Herman, 2022. "The Importance of Outdoor Spaces during the COVID-19 Lockdown in Aotearoa—New Zealand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-17, June.
    3. Amir Reza Khavarian-Garmsir & Ayyoob Sharifi & Mohammad Hajian Hossein Abadi & Zahra Moradi, 2023. "From Garden City to 15-Minute City: A Historical Perspective and Critical Assessment," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-15, February.
    4. Kostas Rontos & Barbara Ermini & Luca Salvati, 2023. "Enlarging the divide? Per-Capita Income as a measure of social inequalities in a southern European City," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 57(1), pages 345-361, February.
    5. Ekström, Karin M. & Jönsson, Håkan, 2022. "Orchestrating retail in small cities," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    6. Roman Dostál & Josef Kocourek & Aneta Matysková & Karolína Moudrá & Vojtěch Nižňanský, 2021. "The Implementation of the Smart City Process—Researchers’ Knowledge in Detecting Transport System Defects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-16, March.
    7. Gabriella Vitorino Guimarães & Tálita Floriano Santos & Vicente Aprigliano Fernandes & Jorge Eliécer Córdoba Maquilón & Marcelino Aurélio Vieira da Silva, 2020. "Assessment for the Social Sustainability and Equity under the Perspective of Accessibility to Jobs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-23, December.
    8. Xin-Wei Li & Hong-Zhi Miao, 2023. "How to Incorporate Autonomous Vehicles into the Carbon Neutrality Framework of China: Legal and Policy Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-24, March.
    9. Andri Ottesen & Sumayya Banna & Basil Alzougool, 2022. "Attitudes of Drivers towards Electric Vehicles in Kuwait," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-16, September.
    10. Duc Nguyen Huu & Van Nguyen Ngoc, 2021. "Analysis Study of Current Transportation Status in Vietnam’s Urban Traffic and the Transition to Electric Two-Wheelers Mobility," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-27, May.
    11. Iannacci, Federico & Chari, Simos & Papagiannidis, Savvas, 2025. "Investigating successful sustainable urban mobility in large cities: A contingency-based, fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 212(C).
    12. Remme, Devyn & Sareen, Siddharth & Haarstad, Håvard, 2022. "Who benefits from sustainable mobility transitions? Social inclusion, populist resistance and elite capture in Bergen, Norway," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    13. Mihaela ZAMFIR & Ileana CIOBANU & Andreea Georgiana MARIN & Mihai-Viorel ZAMFIR, 2021. "Smart dwellings. Architectural perspectives opened by COVID-19 pandemic," Smart Cities and Regional Development (SCRD) Journal, Smart-EDU Hub, Faculty of Public Administration, National University of Political Studies & Public Administration, vol. 5(2), pages 33-49, May.
    14. Antonio Bucchiarone & Simone Bassanelli & Annapaola Marconi, 2023. "How to Foster Sustainable Behaviors through Multi-Campaigns Rewarding Mechanisms: The AIR-BREAK Experience," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-18, March.
    15. Mariano Gallo & Mario Marinelli, 2023. "The Use of Hydrogen for Traction in Freight Transport: Estimating the Reduction in Fuel Consumption and Emissions in a Regional Context," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-20, January.
    16. Adam Przybylowski & Sandra Stelmak & Michal Suchanek, 2021. "Mobility Behaviour in View of the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic—Public Transport Users in Gdansk Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, January.
    17. Diana Angarita-Lozano & Darío Hidalgo-Guerrero & Sonia Díaz-Márquez & María Morales-Puentes & Miguel Angel Mendoza-Moreno, 2025. "Multidimensional Evaluation Model for Sustainable and Smart Urban Mobility in Global South Cities: A Citizen-Centred Comprehensive Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-26, May.
    18. Tiziana Campisi & Socrates Basbas & Anastasios Skoufas & Nurten Akgün & Dario Ticali & Giovanni Tesoriere, 2020. "The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Resilience of Sustainable Mobility in Sicily," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-24, October.
    19. Ariza-Montes, Antonio & Quan, Wei & Radic, Aleksandar & Koo, Bonhak & Kim, Jinkyung Jenny & Chua, Bee-Lia & Han, Heesup, 2023. "Understanding the behavioral intention to use urban air autonomous vehicles," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    20. Ghaemi Asl, Mahdi & Nie, Pu-yan & Charkh, Cyrus, 2024. "Cycles-specific benefits of smart transport for sustainable investing: Global and regional perspectives with different ethical paradigms," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:17:y:2025:i:15:p:6964-:d:1714464. 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.