Incentivos ao transporte ativo em planos de mobilidade urbana: estudo comparativo Brasil e Portugal

Abstract

The research topic, which pertains to Sustainable Urban Mobility Policies and Plans, is inherently interdisciplinary, as it involves factors from the fields of Transport Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Architecture, Urban Planning, and Public Management. Sustainable Urban Mobility relies on political, economic, and social aspects, also touching on education and health in a multidisciplinary manner. The Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan is an important tool for planning and management. Among its guidelines, according to Law No. 12,587 of 2012, is the encouragement and prioritization of active modes (such as walking and cycling), as well as public collective transportation, over individual motorized modes. Active modes are non-polluting, democratic, and healthy transportation options, and are highlighted in sustainable planning. There are various ways to promote active modes, not limited to just providing infrastructure, but also including land use policies, educational and awareness actions, tax incentives, disincentives for private motorized modes, among others. The development of mobility plans and their policies should be adapted to the realities of each locality. Additionally, literature concludes that packages of measures are more effective in changing mobility habits than isolated measures. The objective of this study was to evaluate the measures promoting active transportation in Mobility Plans in Brazil and Portugal. The guiding research question is: which measures/policies for promoting active transportation have more effective results in increasing trips by active modes, and what are the measures used in mobility plans in Brazil and Portugal? To address this question, a comparative case study was conducted. Initially, a literature review was performed on the topic, along with a review of legislation and government guidelines for the development of Mobility Plans and policies promoting active modes. Based on the data obtained from the review, criteria for evaluating the selected plans were structured. In the second phase, a survey of municipalities with Urban Mobility Plans was conducted, and data from available online plans were collected. Sixteen mobility plans were selected for evaluation. A preliminary study of two of these plans, one Brazilian and one Portuguese, contributed to identifying key measures and adjusting the evaluation criteria in the third phase. The fourth phase involved analyzing all the plans according to the defined criteria. The results indicate that the predominant policies in the examined plans involve infrastructure improvements, education, and restrictions on the use of motorized vehicles. Additionally, the promotion and integration of public transportation are also emphasized, reflecting widely accepted recommendations in the reviewed literature. Other policies, such as those related to land use, financial incentives or tax benefits, and bike-sharing systems, are less commonly adopted despite being recommended. The coordinated approach to these policies, comprising a set of measures, is less common in Brazilian plans, while plans in Portugal present more detailed proposals. Both countries employ tools and methodologies for social participation, although the approaches vary.