The University of Insubria strengthens its focus on mobility: Daniele Crotti appointed new Mobility Manager

The University of Insubria is strengthening its commitment to more efficient and sustainable mobility by appointing Professor Daniele Crotti to work alongside Professor Adriano Martinoli, the University’s Delegate for Sustainability, Green Spaces and Energy Efficiency, in the context of the University’s mobility management activities.

The decision reflects the University’s intention to enhance support for students and staff in their mobility choices when travelling to its campuses in Varese, Como and Busto Arsizio, at a time when accessibility and the organisation of travel require particular attention. In Varese, in particular, the construction of new car parks and the imminent opening of the new multifunctional building on the Bizzozero Campus mark a period of transformation in the use and organisation of campus spaces, with implications for the daily routines of those who study and work there.

The new multifunctional building represents a significant investment in the university community. It will bring together teaching and study areas and provide shared facilities, including dining areas, a library and spaces for physical activity, helping to make the campus more functional, integrated and welcoming. In this context, mobility planning plays a strategic role in supporting infrastructure development and facilitating access to university facilities.

The role of Mobility Manager is established under Article 229 of Decree-Law No. 34 of 19 May 2020, converted into Law No. 77 of 17 July 2020, and the subsequent Interministerial Decree No. 179 of 12 May 2021. Responsibilities include supporting the planning and management of regular commuting, promoting sustainable mobility solutions and coordinating with the stakeholders involved, including through instruments such as the Home-to-Work Travel Plan (PSCL) and the Home-to-University Travel Plan (PSCU).

Daniele Crotti, Associate Professor of Applied Economics in the Department of Human Sciences and Innovation for the Territory (DISUIT), conducts research on sustainable mobility and transport economics, with particular attention to competitive dynamics and territorial impacts. His work also includes the analysis of cycle tourism and the study of factors that can encourage bicycle-based mobility. This range of activities and experience provides valuable expertise for addressing mobility challenges through an approach that takes organisational and economic aspects, as well as relationships with the local area, into account.

“I am very pleased and proud to have been entrusted with this role by the Rector. I consider it a great responsibility, particularly at this important moment in the history of our University,” says Professor Crotti. “I will carry out this task in close collaboration with Professor Martinoli, with the aim of making a tangible contribution to identifying solutions that meet the needs of our university community. I will devote time and energy not only to mobility planning, but also to building close and productive partnerships with the various stakeholders operating at local level. I believe that dialogue and collaborative work are essential to understanding critical issues, making the most of existing opportunities and developing effective, sustainable solutions.”

Professor Adriano Martinoli highlights the importance of the new organisational arrangement: “I am particularly grateful to Professor Crotti for accepting this appointment, which will enable our University to have a person specifically dedicated to the complex challenges of mobility. These issues are partly shaped by the University’s own strategies and decisions, but in many respects they require close and productive cooperation with local stakeholders, in Varese, Como and Busto Arsizio alike. I am confident that Daniele, thanks to his experience and his ability to build effective partnerships, will make a fundamental contribution to developing a shared approach that combines the university community’s accessibility needs with sustainability objectives.”

The initiative forms part of the University of Insubria’s broader commitment to integrating sustainability into its policies and the day-to-day management of its activities. Strengthening the expertise dedicated to mobility will make it possible to address the needs of students and staff more consistently, while fostering dialogue with local authorities, public transport operators and other stakeholders to identify solutions tailored to the specific characteristics of each university campus.