Muoviti Italia is born: a manifesto to change mobility on demand

The recipe is ambitious but not impossible. And it passes first of all through a clear and organic national law for non-scheduled mobility, which overcomes the current local fragmentation. Then there is the age-old issue of patchy rules, and regulations must be harmonised among Italian cities to avoid disparities and administrative blockages. Everything will have to go through the promotion of competition between operators and platforms, to increase the quality of service and lower costs for users. And finally, incentives: they are needed for the electrification of fleets and the professional training of drivers. These are the ingredients of the Manifesto for better on-demand mobility in Italy, the founding document of Muoviti Italia, the coalition presented on 28 May at the Press Room of the Chamber of Deputies. A transversal network of actors from the economic, technological and institutional worlds who are allied to call for a structural reform of the non-scheduled mobility sector, today blocked by bureaucratic constraints and anachronistic regulations.

The coalition has many souls. Presenting it were Alessandro Cattaneo (Forza Italia), Giulia Pastorella (+Europa), Andrea Giuricin, lecturer at the University of Milan Bicocca and spokesperson for Muoviti Italia, as well as representatives of the entities that have joined the project, such as Aicalf (low-cost airlines), Bolt (international mobility platform), Conftrasporto and Federazione Muoversì, which represents the chauffeur-driven hire sector (Ncc) led by former parliamentarian, historian Andrea Romano.

The Manifesto starts with a severe but realistic analysis: in Italy, on-demand mobility is underdeveloped. In Rome, with more than 4 million residents and 35 million tourists per year, there are barely 9,000 vehicles circulating, including taxis and Nccs. In Madrid, a city with a similar population but far fewer tourists, the number of on-demand vehicles exceeds 25,000. A disparity that has serious repercussions on both citizens and those working in the sector. The scarcity of means not only creates inefficiencies, but also hinders economic growth and urban development. "Italy can no longer afford to lag behind other European countries," explained Giuricin. "Modern mobility is strategic for attracting investment, creating jobs and improving the quality of life.

The four strands of the proposal (national law, harmonisation of regulations, competition and incentives for electricity) are inspired by transalpine best practices. Countries such as France and Portugal, where Vtc licences (equivalent to Ncc) are managed at national level, with digital, transparent and accessible procedures. "We need a system that really works for people, not against them," said Pastorella. "Modern, digital and inclusive regulation is the only way out of the current paralysis." "Muoviti Italia is a concrete proposal, not an ideological protest," Cattaneo said. "It is an initiative that stems from real needs, and is proposed as a lever for a liberal reform of the sector, capable of combining freedom of enterprise, innovation and quality of service. Technologies allow us to go beyond old patterns: now it is up to the legislator to do his part'. In fact, the coalition is addressing Parliament and the government directly, calling for on-demand mobility reform to be placed on the national political agenda. The sector can be a crucial asset not only for cities, but also for the competitiveness of the country system.

Muoviti Italia presents itself as an open platform, ready to welcome new adhesions from operators, local authorities, associations and citizens. The Manifesto is just the first step of a path that aims to build a fairer, greener and more citizen-oriented mobility ecosystem. 'In a rapidly changing society,' concluded Giuricin, 'we cannot stand still. Mobility is an integral part of the quality of life, and reforming it means building an Italy that is more modern, more competitive and closer to people'.