Innovative Urban Mobility Shaped by Users Through Pervasive Information and Communication Technologies.

Developed countries have been experiencing profound changes as networked digital technologies (The Chartered Institute for IT (BCS) 2013; Meikle & Young 2012) have become increasingly prominent in the urban context, supporting innovations in the field of applied sciences and in sociocultural dynamics (Potts et al. 2008). Responsive data and communication spaces are primary factors in creating feedback loops with citizens, local administrations and the environment. Information and communication technologies, as forms of digital media interacting with one another (UNESCO 2002), have become pivotal in this ‘age of networked intelligence’ (Tapscott 1997). Subsequently, the metropolitan space is gaining growing relevance as a testing ground for the development of innovative solutions, leading to enhanced connectivity opportunities and improved living standards. In the mid-Nineties, the growth of the Internet led researchers to talk about the ‘death of distance’, predicting the demise of cities in the foreseeable future as ‘leftover baggage of the industrial era’ (Gilder 1995, cited in Ratti & Nabian 2010: 383). Despite such forecasts, urban areas have been exploding: since 2008 more than 50 per cent of the world’s inhabitants (3.3 billion people) have come to live in cities and this percentage is expected to reach 66 per cent (almost 5 billion people) by 2050 (United Nations 2014). Due to the repercussions of such a rapid growth and increasing motorization, it is therefore advisable to consider traffic issues in the metropolitan environment, where new countermeasures are required to alleviate traffic jams, commuting time and pollution, not to mention the stress and frustration of travellers. Cities are redefining themselves in the modern age as stages for innovation and user participation. This chapter focuses on the topic of urban mobility and its relationship with the digital world. Due to the amount of intertwined aspects involved, it is necessary to highlight the actual trends and their possible evolution in light of multiple factors, such as physical context, users, new technologies and other transport needs. Presented here are some key reflections that suggest possible directions for addressing tomorrow’s urban mobility needs. The intention is to introduce a transdisciplinary overview of current trends and related consequences in the field of urban personal mobility. This will allow this aspect of urban life to be redefined, facilitating the implementation of future intelligent vehicles and transport systems for improved travel conditions in the city.