Accessibility Through Active Mobility for Sustainable and Inclusive Cities: An Inclusive Accessibility by Proximity Index (IAPI)

This chapter proposes the inclusive accessibility by proximity index (IAPI) as a context-sensitive GIS-based tool for assessing accessibility levels to daily activities deemed essential for a city’s inhabitants through active mobility. Based on the experiences conducted in the test bed of Bologna (Italy), the chapter describes the IAPI methodology, the challenges encountered during its development, and the empirical application outlining the promising results obtained. By introducing the main outcomes of the implementation of IAPI in Bologna, the chapter highlights the role of the tool in supporting the implementation of planning and urban design measures aimed at promoting walkability and cyclability and improving accessibility via active modes to daily services, thus envisioning a more sustainable and inclusive city. Furthermore, the chapter discusses the planned future developments for the index to increase scalability, sensitivity to the spatial and social context of application, and usability for the intended final users, including planning practitioners and policymakers.