Towards an integrated mobility system: The first and last mile solutions in developing countries; the case study of New Cairo

• First/last mile challenge in new urban communities in developing countries as well as various aspects affecting modal choice is studied. • An online survey is used to examine the mobility patterns of New Cairo residents. • The effects of demographics and socioeconomic factors on modal choice and destination types are discussed using multinomial logit model. • The effects of the different modes’ characteristics and tripmakers’ selections on an integrative mobility system are qualitatively assessed. • A clear link between the lack of first/last mile solutions and mass transit ridership. Urban mobility is a huge challenge facing megacities nowadays. Due to the vast urban expansion and the population growth, the transportation network needed to expand and develop to cover the new urban fabrics and connect them to the rest of the city. This expansion and development process is very challenging specially to developing cities. Cairo as a megacity is living this challenge nowadays in several areas. New-Cairo specially has this huge challenge due to its location that connects the New Administrative Capital to the old Capital. The mobility patterns of New Cairo residents, as well as their willingness to use first and last-mile options and its effects onto use mass transit ridership, are being examined through an online survey. A multinomial logit model was then developed to assess the variables affecting the modal choice. As a result of this research, there is an intra-city mobility deficiency that appears in the lack of First and Last miles’ solutions. Based on the analysis results, significant associations were captured between socio-economic variables and the choice of the first/last mile modes. Also, the lack of First and Last mile solutions significantly affects the mass transit ridership. This research acts as a base to explore the approaches of planning an integrated mobility system in developing countries, especially satellite cities. Further research needs to build on this research’s findings and explore the potential solutions for the first and last mile issues.