Rural Mobility Framework

The sharing economy has gained popularity among socially innovative consumers, representing a socio-economic shift from private ownership to collaborative access to resources and services. In recent years, this concept has extended into the transport sector, known as 'Mobility as a Service' (MaaS).

MaaS introduces a new business model to meet the growing demand for dynamic, flexible, and personalized urban mobility solutions. Despite proximity to developed regions, many rural areas in Italy have experienced significant demographic decline, low digital penetration, and outdated infrastructure. The increase in virtual and physical mobility serves as a response to depopulation and marginalization challenges.

This thesis aims to explore how mobility organizations can enhance traditional territorial development policies by emphasizing the involvement of local populations in public transport services. Public services should be designed around the needs of citizens, requiring early inclusion of service users in a human-centred design approach. The scope of the thesis is to assess the feasibility of implementing new mobility solutions in rural areas, adapting the MaaS framework to the socio-economic context. Throughout the project, critical issues and emerging perspectives will be analyzed, involving both institutions and users in the design process.