Toward Safer and Sustainable Urban Mobility: Strategic Approaches for the Global South

Urban mobility in the Global South is undergoing a rapid transformation amid unprecedented urbanization, population growth, and economic change. These dynamics often occur in contexts marked by infrastructure gaps, informal transport systems, and consequently, limited financial resources, which collectively generate significant challenges for safety, accessibility, and environmental sustainability. Historically, transport planning in these regions has prioritised motorisation and infrastructure expansion, frequently to the detriment of road safety and climate impacts. Global initiatives such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety underscore the critical need for integrated, inclusive, and sustainable mobility strategies. Emerging technologies, multimodal planning, and resilience-based design offer promising solutions, but their successful implementation necessitates context-sensitive approaches tailored to diverse socio-economic realities.The aim of this Research Topic is to advance knowledge and practice on strategic approaches for safer, more sustainable urban mobility in the Global South. The critical challenges of congestion, traffic fatalities, and rising emissions necessitate innovative solutions that transcend traditional transport models. Achieving this goal requires a comprehensive, multidimensional perspective that integrates infrastructure design, governance frameworks, policy innovation, and technological advancements. By focusing on safety, sustainability, and equity, this collection seeks to provide practical and actionable insights for cities striving to reduce accidents, improve accessibility, and meet climate commitments. Contributions should address how strategic planning and implementation can transform mobility systems to be inclusive, resilient, and environmentally responsible, offering pathways for long-term urban development aligned with global sustainability agendas.This Research Topic invites contributions that explore the intersection of urban mobility, safety, and sustainability in emerging economies. Suggested themes include:• Integrated and multimodal transport planning• Infrastructure resilience and design for safety• Policy frameworks and governance models• Technological innovations and smart mobility solutions• Social equity, accessibility, and environmental impacts• Sustainable and Innovative fundings framework for transportation infrastructure • Integration of AI for sustainable transportation systems• Stakeholder management for sustainable transportation infrastructure• Life cycle cost management for future transportation infrastructureWe welcome diverse methodologies, including empirical research, theoretical analyses, comparative studies, and policy evaluations. Manuscripts may focus on city-level interventions, regional strategies, or cross-country perspectives within the Global South. Both original research articles and comprehensive reviews are encouraged. By bringing together interdisciplinary insights—from engineering and planning to policy and behavioral studies—this collection aims to inform decision-makers, practitioners, and scholars committed to building safer, greener, and more inclusive urban mobility systems. Topic editors: Nathaniel Olatunde, Angel Gento, IMOLEAYO ABRAHAM AWODELE Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/77050/toward-safer-and-sustainable-urban-mobility-strategic-approaches-for-the-global-south