Behavior of vehicular mobility in small cities. Case study: Tunja, Boyacá, Colombia.

Abstract

Determining when a vehicle problem conditions the function of a city involves identifying the characteristics and consequences that directly affect mobility and other urban functions. Traffic congestion problems are recurrent in cities, regardless of their size, even with the use of new technologies to improve mobility, such as smart traffic lights. However, small cities face a particularly relevant problem, since apparently, they should not experience such a situation. This issue conditions the quality of life and negatively affects the environment. Among the most common problems arising from this situation are traffic congestion, excessive dependence on automobiles, inadequate road infrastructure, increased accidents between vehicles and pedestrians, and air pollution. The objective of this article is to understand how the lack of guidelines to promote sustainable urban mobility is closely linked to effective mobility, the implementation of urban planning parameters and a process of citizen participation. Taking the city of Tunja (Colombia) as a case study, we seek to understand the general problems of a small city and its particularities.