A Toolbox to Analyse Sustainable Mobility in Land-Use Planning Processes: Methodological Challenges and Approaches for Residential Developments in Rural Areas

A major challenge in promoting sustainable mobility behavior in rural areas is the spatial structure. Mapping and modelling the causal interactions between land-use, mobility behavior, and local accessibility is associated with considerable methodolgical complexity. Accessibility analyses have to be linked with tangible applications in order to generate real added value for land-use planning. In the project move.mORe, an approach was developed, building on current research and practical findings, to use accessibility analyses effectively in advising rural municipalities on land-use planning.. Empirical evidence shows that structural parameters such as residential density, mixed land use, accessibility to public transport, and proximity to essential services strongly influence travel behavior. Areas with higher density, diverse land use, and efficient public transport connections exhibit lower car ownership rates and higher shares of walking, cycling, and public transport use. Longitudinal and quasi-experimental studies indicate that changes in the built environment can causally affect mobility behavior, although the extent of these effects is moderated by self-selection processes, whereby individuals choose residential locations aligned with their pre-existing mobility preferences. This poses challenges for researchers and planners seeking to disentangle causality from selection effects. To address these challenges, the project move.mORe developed a multimethodological toolbox designed to support rural municipalities in evaluating and promoting sustainable mobility within the land-use planning process. The aim of the toolbox is to provide a scientifically grounded impact assessment. This enables municipalities to identify potential traffic-related effects of residential developments already in the early stages of the planning process and to develop evidence-based strategies to support the sustainable mobility of residents. On this basis, site-specific solutions can be developed to promote sustainable mobility. Policy interventions can support sustainable mobility through “pull measures” that enhance the attractiveness of environmentally friendly transport modes, as well as “push measures” that limit car dependency, such as parking management or restricted vehicle access. The toolbox employs two primary indicators to evaluate the sustainability of the mobility in planned residential developments: traffic-related greenhouse gas emissions and the provided accessibility for residents. Greenhouse gas emissions quantify the ecological impact of transport demand generated by the development area, representing the environmental boundary of sustainability. Accessibility measures the ability of residents to reach essential destinations such as supermarkets, schools, healthcare providers, and public transport nodes within a defined travel time, reflecting the social needs dimension of sustainable mobility. Accessibility analyses within the regions and municipalities of the project area are conducted using weighted destination categories and isochrones based on the concept of “15-minute city” and transferring its ideas and applications to a “15-minute rural region”. The project’s core structure allows the analysis of these cities these “smaller” cities and municipalities in rural regions and explore different use-cases for accessibility analyses.