The impact of parking lots on sustainable mobility in the Mzab Valley (Algerian Sahara), preliminary results of field observations

Sustainable mobility reduces the consumption of space and resources, facilitates access, promotes economic dynamism, and creates a sustainable environment. This paper investigated the possibility of switching to a sustainable mobility system through parking management in the Mzab Valley and the city of Ghardaia, one of Algeria's classified heritage sites. Using the quantitative descriptive approach and the road network analysis method, the current situation of parking lots shows a high diversity and characterization of parking lots. The most important factors affecting parking lots were also identified, such as population density, vehicle ownership, and the road network. The study shows medium connectivity of the road network and traffic problems with a road saturation coefficient of almost 60%, where access to parking lots increases from 5 minutes to 10 minutes when driving to the city centre. The city centre has a high concentration of parking lots (81%). Furthermore, parking frequency is 5% higher in the morning compared to the evening, with an overall capacity of 12,495 parked cars and a deficit of 10,500 parking spaces. Linking the study to the social and policy aspects, the results indicate that trips for non-compulsory reasons dominate over mandatory trips for workers, where 50% of the population owns a private car and 10% use public transport. Based on the SWOT method, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to be adjusted were identified. This research defines short- and medium-term solutions as a global vision for improving sustainable mobility in the Mazabite context or a similar region.