Italy
Rome
UMR Index Rank
#40
(+3)
Score: 49%
Sustainable Mobility
#33
(+3)
Score: 49.1%
Public Transit
#36
(+15)
Score: 48.8%
Technology Adoption
#39
Score: 36.6%
| Population | 3.8 million |
| Surface area (km2) | 1,145 |
| Population-density (people/km2) | 3,306 |
| GDP per capita ($) | 57,479 |
UMR Index Rank
#40
(+3)
Score: 49%
Sustainable Mobility
#33
(+3)
Score: 49.1%
Public Transit
#36
(+15)
Score: 48.8%
Technology Adoption
#39
Score: 36.6%
What Rome Does Well In Urban Mobility
Rome’s public transit system has affordable fares. The city’s public transport operator, ATAC, allows children under the age of 10 to travel for free when accompanied by a fare-paying adult. A monthly pass, valid on a variety of public transit modes including metro, tram, and bus, costs €35 ($38). Rome also has an advanced mobile application that enables residents to pay in-app for public transit, including bus and metro tickets, as well as for parking.
Rome is more advanced than many other cities in the adoption of electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOLs). Test flights have been taking place in the city since 2022, when Rome inaugurated Italy’s first vertiport at Fiumicino Airport. There are plans for expanding the vertiport network. This will prepare Rome for greater eVTOL adoption once the market matures.
Urban Mobility Readiness Index, Sustainable Mobility, Public Transit, and Technology Adoption scores
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley
Challenges And Opportunities For Rome’s Transportation System
Romans frequently opt to travel with private cars, leading to comparatively lower rates of public transit utilization and particularly low rates of cycling. More than half of the city’s modal split goes to private four-wheeled vehicles. With the 2025 Jubilee of the Catholic Church approaching, Rome is seeking to moderate car use by investing in public transport to increase the low station density relative to its population. It participated in Unleashing the Potential of Public Transport in Europe (UPPER), a program coordinated by the International Association of Public Transport that aims to invest €20 million ($22 million) in 10 European cities. Through UPPER, Rome will implement a 23-square-kilometer (8.8-square-mile) pollution charging program in the city center and a 156-square-kilometer (60-square-mile) low-emission zone that covers the city center and surrounding areas.
Rome has limited dedicated cycling infrastructure, with few residents opting to bike around the city. Despite its 2020 plan to create 150 kilometers (93 miles) of new bike lanes by 2026, the Italian capital’s network still lags in comparison with Milan and other European cities. Rome’s investments into active mobility to discourage car use also include budget for new bike parking stations at public transit stations. The aim is to encourage residents to cycle to and from public transport.
Dimensions of the Urban Mobility Readiness Index score
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley
How Rome Can Improve Its Urban Mobility Performance
Rome can accelerate its current plans and also invest more in safety features like buffers and bike traffic lights in its cycling infrastructure to encourage cycling. While bikes are permitted on public transit, there are restrictions on size and travel during peak hours. Relaxing these restrictions can encourage multimodal transport. Incentivizing e-bike use can also make cycling more attractive.
Rome lags in the adoption of electric vehicles (EV), with an EV market share in sales just one-quarter that of Lisbon. Limited clarity and delays in introducing government incentives, particularly throughout the first six months in 2024, stalled EV sales. The Ecobonus EV subsidy that was finally launched in mid- 2024 was quickly depleted. Rome can provide more incentives for EVs, whether in the form of subsidies or tax rebates. Rome also can invest more in the charging network, which lacks density.
Urban Mobility Readiness Index relative ranking evolution (2020-2024)
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley