EURO 2025 Leeds
Abstract Submission

1660. First and last mile problem in the case of island contexts

Invited abstract in session WD-59: Urban Mobility II, stream Transportation.

Wednesday, 14:30-16:00
Room: Liberty 1.14

Authors (first author is the speaker)

1. Marilisa Botte
Department of Architecture, Federico II University of Naples
2. Anna Limmatola
Architecture, Federico II University of Naples

Abstract

The first and last mile problem is a key factor to be addressed to develop a sustainable mobility framework. In other words, it is crucial that users' mobility choices to move from the starting point of their journey to a transport hub (the "first mile") and from the transport hub to their final destination (the "last mile") rely on environmentally friendly transport services; otherwise, the adoption of a sustainable choice for the main mode risks being undermined. Generally, where distances to be covered are not suitable for the walking mode, solutions such as shuttle services, shared micromobility options or small electric buses could help bridge the gap.
This is true in urban frameworks, but it is even more challenging in the case of island contexts which generally present complex and fragile ecosystems and strive to balance connectivity, sustainability, and economic growth. Indeed, such territories are geographically isolated and require maritime transport to connect them with the mainland. This unique characteristic means that, unlike in more urbanized areas, the primary mode of transportation is often by boat, ferry, or cargo ship and, therefore, it is vital to address the complexities of moving people to and from the port. This work makes a first attempt at modeling such an issue in a real island context, with a particular focus on mainland-island commuters during the off-season.

Keywords

Status: accepted


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