Accelerating the Transition towards a Sustainable Public Mobility in Lecce
Published on
01/12/2025
About this challenge
Italy
Challenge description
The Municipality of Lecce is engaged in a transformation process aimed at shifting from a strongly car-centric mobility model to a sustainable, integrated and low-impact system capable of improving residents’ quality of life while responding to the city’s growing tourist attractiveness. Although the use of private vehicles remains widespread, Lecce recognises a clear opportunity to promote more efficient, accessible and climate-friendly mobility choices.
A key priority concerns strengthening and better connecting active mobility networks. Cycling and pedestrian infrastructures are expanding and improving, but the city aims to accelerate this process by learning how to create continuous and attractive corridors that encourage residents and visitors to choose active mobility as their primary option.
Lecce also intends to further integrate sustainable mobility with its tourism offer. As a major cultural destination, the city can benefit from the development of pedestrian routes, cycling itineraries and low-impact travel solutions that enhance the visitor experience while reducing pressure on the historic centre and coastal areas.
Civic participation is an essential component of this transition. Lecce seeks to strengthen community engagement by raising awareness among residents, students and stakeholders and by involving them as active partners in the co-design of mobility solutions and in supporting the behavioural changes required.
The main expected outcome is a measurable reduction in private car use and a significant increase in public transport uptake—including buses, shuttles, trams and other collective modes—making it more accessible, reliable and attractive for both daily mobility and tourism. This shift is central to Lecce’s vision of a modern, inclusive and environmentally sustainable city.
A key priority concerns strengthening and better connecting active mobility networks. Cycling and pedestrian infrastructures are expanding and improving, but the city aims to accelerate this process by learning how to create continuous and attractive corridors that encourage residents and visitors to choose active mobility as their primary option.
Lecce also intends to further integrate sustainable mobility with its tourism offer. As a major cultural destination, the city can benefit from the development of pedestrian routes, cycling itineraries and low-impact travel solutions that enhance the visitor experience while reducing pressure on the historic centre and coastal areas.
Civic participation is an essential component of this transition. Lecce seeks to strengthen community engagement by raising awareness among residents, students and stakeholders and by involving them as active partners in the co-design of mobility solutions and in supporting the behavioural changes required.
The main expected outcome is a measurable reduction in private car use and a significant increase in public transport uptake—including buses, shuttles, trams and other collective modes—making it more accessible, reliable and attractive for both daily mobility and tourism. This shift is central to Lecce’s vision of a modern, inclusive and environmentally sustainable city.
Find more
This city is looking for
Lecce, as a provincial capital and a key hub for cities nearby, can benefit from the experience of a partner city that has already implemented effective strategies to reduce private car use and strengthen public transport. In particular, the city is interested in practical knowledge on how to make public transport more attractive through integrated solutions and communication strategies capable of steering behaviours towards collective mobility.
Lecce also aims to learn from cities that have developed public transport nodes and that are themselves important cultural or tourist destinations. Technical expertise in the design and management of intermodal nodes, mobility hubs, last-mile connections and shared mobility services would be especially valuable.
Furthermore, experience in integrating sustainable mobility with tourism development would provide added value to the city’s ambition to promote slow and low-impact forms of tourism. Guidance on how to integrate cycling routes, pedestrian paths and public transport into the tourism offer—and on how to communicate these options effectively to visitors—would be highly relevant.
Finally, Lecce is interested in participatory methodologies that engage residents, students, businesses and tourism operators in the co-creation of mobility solutions. Expertise in behavioural change, community engagement and co-design would strengthen the transition towards a more sustainable, accessible and inclusive mobility system.
Lecce also aims to learn from cities that have developed public transport nodes and that are themselves important cultural or tourist destinations. Technical expertise in the design and management of intermodal nodes, mobility hubs, last-mile connections and shared mobility services would be especially valuable.
Furthermore, experience in integrating sustainable mobility with tourism development would provide added value to the city’s ambition to promote slow and low-impact forms of tourism. Guidance on how to integrate cycling routes, pedestrian paths and public transport into the tourism offer—and on how to communicate these options effectively to visitors—would be highly relevant.
Finally, Lecce is interested in participatory methodologies that engage residents, students, businesses and tourism operators in the co-creation of mobility solutions. Expertise in behavioural change, community engagement and co-design would strengthen the transition towards a more sustainable, accessible and inclusive mobility system.
City size
Small city (50k to 250k inhabitants)
Author
Luca De Cristofaro
Italy
Funzionario Amministrativo
Municipality of Lecce
Looking for
