Transportation systems are pivotal in advancing sustainable urbanization and facilitating the transition to more environmentally conscious living practices. Over recent decades, European cities have experienced profound transformations, with suburbanization introducing new and complex challenges. Suburban areas, while often more affordable in terms of housing, are predominantly characterized by car-dependent urban designs. This reliance on private vehicles contributes to elevated commuting costs, reduced mobility, transport and time poverty, environmental pollution, increased accident rates, and diminished social interaction. To provide sustainable mobility solutions to urban populations, it is critical to comprehensively analyse their mobility patterns, personal characteristics, and the physical attributes of the built environment. This research focuses on the Barcelona Metropolitan Region, which benefits from a comprehensive public transport network, especially in certain areas. The primary objective of this study is to explore the interaction between travel behaviour, transportation mode choices, individual socioeconomic attributes, and residential location, utilizing detailed data sources. Specifically, the analysis leverages the annual travel surveys conducted in the Barcelona region from 2018 to 2023, in conjunction with land-use and other relevant datasets.

The findings of this study indicate that transportation policies have effectively fostered sustainable and prevalent mobility practices, particularly within the central areas of Barcelona. However, significant disparities persist between the inner city and suburban regions, where sustainable mobility adoption is markedly lower. The results underscore the need for further enhancements in transportation, urban, and land-use planning policies to promote equity and address the socioeconomic characteristics of residents.