Evaluating smart mobility ecosystems : citizen perspectives from four global cities

Abstract

Smart mobility has become a critical component of urban competitiveness and sustainable urban development. While smart city rankings frequently assess infrastructure and governance capacity, less attention has been paid to citizens' perceptions of mobility-related innovations. Drawing on survey data from Hamburg, Los Angeles, Shanghai, and Dubai (N = 955), this study examines how residents evaluate digital mobility services, including car sharing, parking guidance, bike sharing, digital ticketing, and real time traffic information. The findings reveal substantial cross regional differences. Shanghai records the strongest smart mobility index (1.78), followed by Dubai (1.91), Los Angeles (2.36), and Hamburg (2.83). Public transport t-ticketing receives the most positive evaluation in Hamburg and Los Angeles, while real-time road traffic information receives the most positive evaluation in Shanghai; both services are rated equally favourably in Dubai. The results suggest that smart mobility serves not only as a transport policy instrument but also as a visible indicator of urban innovation, quality of life, and competitiveness.