BOLZANO. The Autonomous Region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol has approved the Plan of the Home-work travel 2025 with the aim of promoting sustainable mobility solutions and improving the quality of life of employees and citizens, limiting the use of private transport and reducing the environmental impact in urban areas. According to the latest report from the European Environment Agency, air pollution in Europe still exceeds safety thresholds, with road transport as the main cause of emissions.
An analysis was therefore made of the employees’ habits, their travel needs, as well as their propensity to change.
The data collected from the questionnaire provided a detailed picture of the distances traveled by employees to go to work and the modes of transport adopted. Most employees travel relatively short distances: 8% travel approximately 20 km, while 5% travel distances of 10 km, 25 km or less than 5 km. A smaller share, 4%, faces longer journeys, up to 100 km, or very short journeys, less than 1 km.
Regarding the modes of transport, the private car remains the predominant means of transport, used by 44% of employees. However, a significant 16% choose public transport, demonstrating a growing interest in collective solutions. Another 16% prefer to travel on foot, while 22% divide their preferences between bicycle (11%) and train (11%). The use of vehicles such as motorbikes or scooters remains marginal.
As regards satisfaction with public transport, 39% of employees judge it positively, appreciating its cost-effectiveness and respect for the environment. However, there remains room for improvement: a greater frequency of trips and a reduction in travel times are indicated as priorities to increase the attractiveness of this solution. Comfort and safety on public transport are important aspects for 10% and 9% of those interviewed, indicating that interventions in these areas could further encourage their use.
The results then highlighted a broad interest in incentives for sustainable mobility, with a clear preference for some specific solutions. The most significant request, chosen by 29% of participants, is to obtain discounts on travel tickets for public transport, a measure that could encourage more widespread use of this means. Immediately afterwards, 21% of those interviewed expressed the desire to take advantage of discounts for the purchase of bicycles, in particular for pedal-assisted ones, a sign of a growing sensitivity towards soft mobility solutions.
Despite already existing incentives, such as the 50% reimbursement on extra-urban passes and 30% on urban passes, it emerged that further improvements could push more people to adopt public transport. In particular, a major one frequency of trips, requested by 15% of respondents, and a reduction in travel times (18%) are considered priorities to make this mode of travel more attractive. Comfort and safety on public transport also represent important aspects for 10% and 9% of employees, while more specific requests, such as the proximity of stops or better coordinated connections, were reported by a minority.
Monica Leonardelli, Mobility Managerdeveloped a ten-point action plan:
1. Reduce the need for travel: through the increase in remote working and smart working, already adopted by over 70% of employees in 2023.
2. Eliminate complementary needs: reducing “accessory” trips linked to family or personal commitments, such as accompanying children to school or stopping to do the shopping.
3. Improve the quality of public transport: collaborating with local authorities to guarantee greater frequency, punctuality and comfort for passengers.
4. Increase the attractiveness of public transport: through economic incentives and targeted communication to raise employee awareness of the environmental and economic benefits.
5. Strengthen infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians: creating safe parking for bicycles and improving pedestrian paths near the regional headquarters.
6. Promote the use of bicycles: through initiatives such as the “company bike to work” and discounts for the purchase of pedal-assisted bicycles.
7. Encourage shared mobility: expanding agreements with bike sharing, car sharing and electric scooter services.
8. Discourage the individual use of private cars: through company parking management policies and incentives for those who adopt alternative means.
9. Plan the use of car parks: optimizing pricing and limiting their use on the busiest days to encourage alternative mobility solutions.
10. Increase the energy efficiency of means of transport: promoting electric and hybrid vehicles for both private and business use.
“The Region, with this plan, aligns itself with the European objectives of “Zero Pollution” by 2050 and wants to confirm its commitment towards sustainable mobility, actively contributing to public health and the well-being of citizens – underlined the President of the Region Arno Kompatscher – the interventions programmed in the plan for 2025 will allow for a annual reduction of 2,642,626 kg of CO2, equivalent to that absorbed by over 120,000 trees, as well as overall economic savings for the Region and its employees over 240,000 euros. Furthermore, we will launch a communication campaign to inform employees about the benefits of the plan and will monitor the results quarterly, with the aim of making the plan a replicable model for other administrations”.