In June 2010, the European Transport Council adopted the Conclusions of the Action Plan on Urban Mobility. The future sustainable development requires specific policies oriented on all levels of government. The solutions don’t reside in a “policy that suits all”, but have to include integrated urban policies, which can provide an alternative mobility offer based on a high-quality public transport network and on stable financing and investment plans, thus encouraging a much more sustainable development. The Action Plan aims at improving safety in urban and metropolitan areas and requires measures for the promotion of a fair dialogue between all the parties involved.
Urban transport systems represent an integrating part of the European transport system and, implicitly, of the joint transport policy. Moreover, other EU policies (cohesion policy, environmental policy, health policy etc.) cannot achieve their objectives without taking into consideration the specificities of the urban sector, including urban mobility.
In recent years, the European Union developed both the policy and the legislation on urban mobility, supporting this sector by allocating massive investments from the structural and cohesion funds. Therefore, the initiatives financed by the EU contributed to the development of numerous innovative approaches. Multiplying these approaches across the entire EU could allow public authorities to develop more projects at lower costs. Developing efficient transport systems in urban areas has become a more complex issue, considering the increasing traffic congestion and the accelerated urban expansion. Having a sustainable urban mobility is important in order to establish relations with the global society, which tends to focus more and more in urban agglomerations.
The Action Plan supports urban mobility, to that end approaching various issues which should be implemented. An integrated approach is best suited for the urban transport systems. This is necessary not only for the development of infrastructure and transport services, but also for the elaboration of transport policies coordinated with environmental policies, land planning, housing, social policies on accessibility and mobility and industrial policies. The objective is to speed up the implementation of sustainable urban mobility projects and that of a regional policy, especially by enhancing awareness related to the financing available through structural and cohesion funds and also EIB.
Another policy focuses on the citizens. To that end, ensuring the protection of passengers’ rights, including disabled people, is one of the priorities listed on the Commission’s agenda.
“Greene urban transport” is another chapter of the Action Plan, which outlines the consolidation of the markets in terms of new technologies developed for non-polluting vehicles and new alternative fuel. To that end, the European industry will benefit from financial support to promote a healthy environment and increase economic recovery. The key aspects of an efficient transport system are: integration, interoperability and interconnection between various transport networks. These aspects help facilitate the modal shift to less polluting modes of transport and an efficient freight transport logistics. To that end, the Commission will promote the optimization of urban logistics and the improvement of the connections between long-distance, interurban and urban freight transport.
The solutions for an accessible transport system adapted to the needs of the citizens are very important for adopting a way of living less dependent on motor vehicles, thus facilitating the use of public means of transport or even other means of mobility.
The Action Plan also stipulates the creation of an observer of urban mobility for the experts that activate in the field. This observer is designed as a virtual platform that includes a database of solutions already used, training materials, software and other instruments related to urban mobility.
by Pamela Luică
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