Urban Regeneration and Soft Mobility: The Case Study of the Rimini Canal Port in Italy

The increasing need to reduce emissions and the environmental impact of urban areas to meet European decarbonisation goals motivates the selection of the Rimini Canal Port as a case study within the FRAMESPORT project, part of the European Interreg Italy-Croatia programme. A preliminary historical-documental and urban regulations analysis of the context allowed the identification of the main criticalities and potentials through a SWOT analysis. The central role of the stakeholders enabled the creation of a successful participatory co-design process developed through online surveys. Critical issues that emerged during the data collection phase were prioritised through a BOCR model, a powerful multi-criteria analysis tool. The project phase then focused on the resolution of the two main critical issues that emerged: the improvement of cycle/pedestrian paths, and the raising of the flooding docks in the Canal Port area. This article intends to demonstrate the strong influence of soft mobility in urban regeneration projects, and how an improvement of the quality of cycle/pedestrian paths can increase the quality of urban spaces. The new paths create a green infrastructure that contributes to a reduction in pollutant emissions through the promotion of sustainable mobility systems and an increase in green urban spaces.

Automated summary

This study focuses on the Rimini Canal Port as a case study to address the increasing need for reducing emissions and environmental impact in urban areas. Through a historical-documental and urban regulations analysis, the main issues and potentials were identified and evaluated using a SWOT analysis. The involvement of stakeholders enabled a successful participatory co-design process, leading to the resolution of critical issues and the improvement of cycle/pedestrian paths and the flooding docks in the Canal Port area. The findings highlight the significant impact of soft mobility on urban regeneration projects.