Milan and mobility. Area B from 2019. Electric and hybrid as growing choices. The relationship between citizens and urban spaces. And the city, imagined twenty years from now. Twenty minutes “free-wheeling” on board a Tesla Model S with Marco Granelli, Milan's councillor for the environment and mobility.
We "kidnapped" him as he left Palazzo Reale at the end of his talk at the second edition of the Osservatorio Milano sostenibile, dedicated to the lifestyle of Milan's residents and produced by LifeGate with Eumetra MR to find out how well the citizens of the Lombard capital understand the concept of sustainability in all its forms. The aim? To take advantage of Marco Granelli's presence at the Osservatorio — Milan City Council's councillor for mobility and the environment — to comment on the data that had emerged. But also to explore the projects, scenarios and mobility initiatives that will affect Milan in the short and long term.
Twenty minutes "free-wheeling", on board a whisper-quiet (and electric) Tesla Model S, a wide-ranging conversation covering everything from the imminent opening of Area B, due to come into force from next January, to Milan's car sharing landscape, right through to its dreams of autonomous driving.
For the councillor, the solutions for the future of mobility in Milan certainly involve electric vehicles, which "are, however, just one of the options available," he explained. Milan is also one of the cities with the greatest number of charging points. But on that note, what is the relationship between Milan's residents and mobility? While for 29 per cent of inhabitants of the Lombard capital sustainability is an important issue, for 97 per cent "public transport must be strengthened so that citizens use their cars less, even at the cost of introducing traffic restrictions for motorists," while for 61 per cent (last year it was 55), funds must be dedicated to developing cycle lanes to allow citizens to get around the city without a car.
Read also: Nel presente e nel futuro di Milano campeggia la sostenibilità
In favour of a more liveable city, 67 per cent of people see car sharing as the right solution. In their free time, habits improve; 62 per cent of Milan's residents say it is right to avoid using the car whenever possible, preferring means of transport with lower emissions. Also fundamental is the strengthening of public transport with more efficient links between the centre and the suburbs. A good proportion of Milan's residents are convinced of this, aware that the future of their wellbeing depends on new models of mobility.
