Active Mobility as Support for Territorial Regeneration of the Veneto Foothill Territory

The recovery and enhancement of territorial infrastructures, supported by an integrated and collaborative approach, represent an effective strategy for promoting new forms of territorial regeneration starting from mobility system reconceptualization and paradigms oriented towards active mobility as tools for collective well-being and urban resilience. The issue arises with particular urgency in low-density territories, which remain dependent on car use and neglected by alternative mobility policies. Active mobility, primarily walking and cycling, is recognized by European regulations as a key factor for improving public health, as highlighted by the European Declaration On Cycling since 2022. The objective of this proposal is to analyze the role of existing infrastructures in the Veneto foothill region to assess their potential in supporting active mobility. The study focuses on the possibility of repurposing and integrating these infrastructures to develop a sustainable, and less car-dependent mobility system. This approach analyzes the “Active Mobility Workshop” promoted by the Fondazione Palazzo Festari (Valdagno, Vicenza) as a significant experience of participatory planning and inter-municipal cooperation. It is anticipated that the regeneration of the existing infrastructure network, combined with urban space redevelopment policies and the enhancement of public transport, can improve public health by promoting physical activity. This approach also contributes to the sustainable management of territorial resources by optimizing the maintenance of the road and river network. The contribution highlights how these approaches can provide replicable tools for large scale territorial regeneration and road and river networks maintenance.