Urban Mobility and Community Design

Urban mobility and community design encompass the planning, management and adaptation of transport systems and built environments to foster sustainable, equitable and liveable cities. This field examines how street layouts, transport modes, public spaces and neighbourhood configurations interact to shape travel behaviour, social interaction and environmental outcomes. Central themes include the integration of walking, cycling, public transport and shared mobility services; the mitigation of negative impacts such as noise, pollution and physical barriers; and the promotion of inclusive access for diverse populations. Contemporary practice emphasises multimodal networks, green infrastructure, digital technologies for traffic management and participatory design processes. By aligning transport strategies with land-use policies, urban designers and planners aim to reduce reliance on private vehicles, enhance active travel, strengthen community cohesion and support economic vitality. The global significance of this research lies in its potential to address climate change, public health and social equity simultaneously, offering transferable approaches for cities at different stages of development.

Research from Nature Portfolio

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Urban Mobility and Community Design publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in urban mobility and community design across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Urban mobility: The movement of people and goods within an urban area, encompassing walking, cycling, public transport, shared modes and private vehicles.

Community severance: The physical or psychological division of neighbourhoods caused by transport infrastructure, which can hinder access to amenities and social networks.

Road network hierarchy: The classification and organisation of streets into tiers (e.g. arterials, collectors, local roads) to balance vehicular flow, safety and access.

Shared space: A street design concept that removes conventional segregation between vehicles and pedestrians, using subtle design cues to regulate speed and encourage interaction.

Traffic calming: A set of measures—such as speed cushions, narrowed lanes and raised crossings—intended to reduce vehicle speeds and improve safety for all street users.

References

1. Contextualizing urban road network hierarchy and its role for sustainable transport futures: A systematic literature review using bibliometric analysis and content analysis tools. Frontiers of Engineering Management (2024).
2. Examining the Role of Innovative Streets in Enhancing Urban Mobility and Livability for Sustainable Urban Transition: A Review. Sustainability (2023).
3. Disentangling barrier effects of transport infrastructure: synthesising research for the practice of impact assessment. European Transport Research Review (2022).