The concept of Smart City has started emerging in the past recent years with the introduction of specific policy and directives by the European Union and by national governments. A Smart City is a city that “performs” well and is capable of answering citizens’ needs about urban quality: reduction of energy consumption and pollution, social cohesion, health, good administration and the accessibility and quality of the services of mobility and transport.
The most attractive European and non-European cities demonstrate that there can be no “smart” cities without a “smart” mobility. This has to be based, on the one hand, on an effective cooperation among the various mobility services (co-modality), and on the other – more important – on efficient, reliable, extensive and high-quality collective transport services.
A “Smart City”, in our opinion, is not a model all cities should stick to, but rather an opportunity to deeper investigate the needs and requirements of a city, so as to better support the design, realisation and integration of the most effective solutions and most suitable services to meet citizens’ demands.