With 60% of the world's population expected to be living in urban areas by 2025, urban mobility is expected to increase by 50% (compared to 2005 levels) and, if current trends prevail, travel by private motorised modes is expected to rise by almost 80% with a predicted 30% increase in greenhouse gas emissions.

In this context it is high time to act, in order to put legislators on the side of public transport; to encourage investment in the sector and to urge decision makers to actively pursue policies that promote sustainable mobility behaviour.

"With this campaign, we want to change the perception of public transport from a necessary evil to a preferred choice," explained UITP Secretary General, Alain Flausch. "We want to show its many social, economic and environmental benefits and work towards achieving more and better public transport".

Winning cities
With cities representing 80% of the world's economic output, the campaign highlights the competitive advantage of those that invest in public transport, with greater connectivity helping to spur new businesses, create jobs and reduce the cost of transport to the community.

Public transport also helps to liberate cities from congestion, often estimate to cost around 2% of national GDP, as well as significantly reducing the consumption of natural resources: for every kilometre travelled, public transport consumes 3-4 times less energy per passenger than cars.

Stable financing
"In order to work towards this goal, we need measures and policies that actively influence citizens' mobility behaviour as well as integrated urban policies that optimise the benefits of public transport," Mr. Flausch added. "Underpinning all of this is financial stability. This means that the sector needs to diversify its revenue streams, ensure secure funding, enhance efficiency and increase patronage in order to be able to meet increasing demand".

The new visual concepts, in which the passenger features prominently, are also a call to action to the sector to place the passenger firmly at the heart of its business culture. Providing lifestyle services, innovative IT solutions and striving for excellence should be the guiding principle for the industry.

Grow with Public Transport Awards
UITP will soon invite applications for the 2013 Grow with Public Transport Awards. Following the first edition and in the same spirit as the UITP PTx2 Awards in 2011, the Grow with Public Transport Awards will recognise the efforts of mobility stakeholders working hard to increase public transport usage and improve services through innovation.

The Award winners will showcase innovation in several key areas: business models and funding, customer service, integrated mobility, information technology and design. The Awards will be handed over at the UITP World Congress and Exhibition in Geneva in May 2013.

A special award will be handed over to political decision-makers who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to growing public transport.

Schlagwörter