Volume 14 | Issue 1

 Abstract

Smart mobility has emerged as a critical component of sustainable urban development, aiming to address challenges related to traffic congestion, environmental degradation, and inefficient transportation systems. In India, the rapid pace of urbanization has intensified the need for intelligent and technology-driven mobility solutions, particularly in medium-sized cities that often face infrastructural and governance constraints. Meerut, a rapidly growing city in Uttar Pradesh and part of the National Capital Region (NCR), has been identified under the Smart Cities Mission, making it a relevant case for examining the adoption of smart mobility initiatives. This study investigates public perception, awareness, and willingness to adopt smart mobility solutions in Meerut. Primary data were gathered using a quantitative research approach by giving structured questionnaires to city dwellers from a range of socioeconomic backgrounds. The study looks at important elements that affect adoption, such as perceived utility, affordability, ease of use, trust in technology, and institutional support. The results show that the public has a moderate understanding of smart mobility concepts and is more receptive to solutions like smart traffic management systems and app-based public transportation services. However, more sophisticated technologies are met with skepticism because of issues with cost, accessibility, and data privacy. In order to improve public participation and the successful implementation of smart transportation solutions in Meerut, the study identifies important adoption hurdles and offers policy-oriented recommendations. The study provides insights for policymakers and urban planners and contributes to the limited empirical literature on smart mobility uptake in medium-sized Indian cities

Licence: creative commons attribution 4.0

  License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

 Keywords

Smart mobility, public perception, technology adoption, smart cities, Meerut, urban transportation

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

 Abstract

Metro rail systems are increasingly promoted as sustainable solutions for managing congestion, reducing pollution, and improving urban mobility efficiency in Indian cities. Despite extensive public investment and technically advanced infrastructure, many newly operational metro systems continue to experience ridership levels that are significantly lower than initial projections. This persistent gap highlights the limitations of infrastructure-led planning approaches that overlook behavioural, spatial, and environmental dimensions of everyday travel. This research examines low metro ridership in Indian cities through the concept of behavioural friction, defined as the cumulative spatial, psychological, climatic, and social resistance encountered by commuters during daily mobility. The study moves beyond traditional transport performance metrics by focusing on lived commuter experience, particularly during first- and last-mile access to metro stations. A mixed-method approach combining commuter perception surveys, spatial accessibility analysis, walkability audits, and qualitative behavioural assessment is adopted. A Behavioural Friction Index (BFI) is developed to evaluate station-level resistance to metro usage by integrating walkability quality, climatic comfort, safety perception, last-mile reliability, and surrounding land-use activity. Findings indicate that extreme thermal stress, fragmented pedestrian infrastructure, safety concerns, unreliable last-mile services, and entrenched twowheeler dependence significantly reduce the effective catchment area of metro stations. The paper concludes that metro performance in Indian cities depends less on engineering capacity and more on access comfort, behavioural acceptance, and spatial quality, advocating a shift toward behaviour-led, climate-responsive, and human-centric urban mobility planning.

Licence: creative commons attribution 4.0

  License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

 Keywords

Behavioural friction, metro ridership, urban mobility, walkability, climate stress, Indian cities

  License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition