The urban area generates the greatest challenges on sustainable transportation. Currently, cities suffer from congestion, reduced air quality and noise exposure. Urban transport is an important source of emissions generated by transport. 69% of road accidents take place in cities.
Urban dimension will grow in importance being estimated that the percentage of the European citizens living in urban areas will increase from 74% at the time being to around 85% in 2050. Designing sustainable cities is one of the greatest challenges that the political decision makers are confronted with. Fortunately, the urban environment offers several alternatives as regards mobility. Shifting to less polluting energy strategies is facilitated by reduced requirements for the types of vehicles. Public transport choices are more widely available, as well as the option of walking and cycling. Demand management and land-use planning can lower traffic volumes.
Over the next decades, as a consequence of reduced urban space and increasing energy and infrastructure access costs, journeys should no longer rely on multifunctional automotive vehicles which, usually, don’t carry the maximum number of passengers, the White Paper on Transport estimates.
In urban areas, walking and cycling, next to the use of public transport, often offers better choices, not only as regards emissions, but also speed since these transport modes could easily replace the high number of journeys covering less than 5 km. Apart from reducing greenhouse gas emissions, they can ensure maximum benefits such as a reduced level of air and phonic pollution, less road space necessities and a reduced level of energy consumption. Consequently, facilitating walking and cycling should become integrated part of urban mobility and infrastructure projects, shows the new White Paper on Transport.
Urban planning, access regulations, including in the areas with reduced emissions, the stricter control of parking lots, price setting policies and alternative accessibility forms could significantly influence the choice for a mode of transport. Urban planning and a type of proper management for functional urban areas are essential. These should be aimed at creating compact cities favouring good coordination between transport planning, reviving ruined industrial areas and new settlements.
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