Developing a Sustainable Urban Mobility Maturity Model


Eruyar M., ÖZEN H.

Sustainability (Switzerland), vol.18, no.2, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, SSCI, Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 18 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2026
  • Doi Number: 10.3390/su18020689
  • Journal Name: Sustainability (Switzerland)
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Geobase, INSPEC
  • Keywords: maturity model, mobility benchmarking, sustainability assessment, sustainable urban mobility, urban transportation
  • Yıldız Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

This study introduces the Sustainable Urban Mobility Maturity Model (SUM-MM) to assess and enhance the maturity of sustainable urban mobility in cities. The SUM-MM comprises 3 main dimensions (enablers, sustainability, and transport modes) and 11 sub-dimensions (strategic and spatial planning, organization and human resources, information and communication technologies, environment, economy, social, walking, micromobility, public transport, paratransit systems, and multimodal integration), evaluated at 5 levels (beginner, initial, integrated, managed, and mature). Developed through a literature review and validated using a questionnaire-based expert opinion method, the model was tested in Konya, Türkiye. The results show that Konya’s overall maturity falls between integrated and managed, with significant variability across sub-dimensions. The enablers dimension demonstrated the highest maturity, driven by strong organizational and technological capabilities, whereas the transport modes dimension had the lowest—particularly in paratransit systems. The SUM-MM serves as both a benchmarking tool and a policy guidance framework, facilitating targeted strategies for sustainable urban mobility improvements. Unlike existing smart city or transport maturity models, the SUM-MM specifically focuses on sustainable urban mobility, offering a structured, operational, and decision-oriented framework for policy-makers and city administrations. The results can be used by local and national authorities to support comparative benchmarking, strategic planning, and the prioritization of sustainable urban mobility investments.