Urban mobility is one of the major challenges faced by downtown areas in cities
worldwide. Understanding how to improve it is essential, as it directly impacts
the quality of life of people who live and work in these regions. There is an
inconsistency in the fact that vehicles are produced with high efficiency and
effectiveness, yet their purpose does not align with the daily commuting needs
of large city centers, especially during peak travel times. The tools used in
vehicle manufacturing, such as continuous improvement, lean manufacturing,
continuous flow, and the theory of constraints, have been applied to balance
transportation mode options. The analyzed scenarios aim to promote sustainable
development and contribute to enhancing citizens’ quality of life. This study
explores the hypothesis that if the conventional unit of measurement for
vehicles, typically expressed in terms of vehicle volume or flow
(vehicles/hour), were replaced by a metric based on the number of people
transported per square meter per hour (persons/m2/h), the resulting
analyses and proposed solutions would be more effective. The research yields two
main conclusions in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. First, modifying the metric
through technology and conceptual modeling within a cyber-physical environment
leads to a more balanced decision-making process in traffic engineering
management. Second, on São Paulo’s traditional avenues (Plano de Avenidas), the
number of people transported is equivalent to reducing 29.5% of cars per hour
during peak hours, which in turn lowers gas emissions from motor vehicles by
64.0%, all while maintaining the same transport capacity without altering the
mode of transport. This shift results in several benefits: from a social
perspective, it encourages vehicle sharing, both private and collective; from an
environmental perspective, it reduces pollutant emissions by promoting the use
of chartered buses and ultra-compact electric shared vehicles; and from an
economic perspective, it decreases travel times while enabling variable and
shared pricing models for vehicles using the city’s main roads.