Abstract

The challenges posed by the 2030 agenda for the transition to sustainable cities has sparked interest in implementing public policies that limit dependence on private vehicles and privilege the use of public and non-motorised transport. The roadmap of the Chilean Government’s 2030 agenda aims to improve access to basic services in a way that favours these forms of transport. According to the literature, such changes are only possible if cities have the basic desirable conditions to enable the transition to sustainable mobility. Adopting the city of Antofagasta as a case study, we evaluated the desirable conditions for a medium-sized city in Chile using three key factors: governance, urban and transport infrastructure development, and the installed capacities of goods and services. We find that public policy intervention actions for the promotion of sustainable mobility should focus on considering the role of socio-urban integration in the planning and development of the city and on promoting and enabling a micro-neighbourhood culture to meet maintenance and leisure needs through short non-motorised trips. © 2025 Regional Studies Association.