Making the right mobility choices

In 2008 humanity has reached a turning point in its history. For the first time ever, more than half of the world population is living in urban areas.

The paradox is that we are crossing this threshold at the very moment when our urban model is being severely challenged. A quick glimpse at the mass media around the world shows that we are no longer in a 'business as usual' situation. Our societies are threatened by pollution, congestion, climate change and uncontrolled urban growth. Experts may disagree about the approximate date of the so-called oil peak and the end of the oil era, but they do all agree that energy price will only go up.

Even if this heavily affects the operation expenditures of public transport companies, it also opens new opportunities for the sector, as motorists in many countries are reconsidering their mobility behaviour and turning to public transport. This change results in a significant increase in the number of customers, calling for more capacity. In order to provide this extra capacity and to turn these new users into satisfied and loyal customers, public transport companies, their authorities and the supplying industry need to act.

No city today can function efficiently without public transport. The question for planners has therefore shifted from "should we invest in public transport?" to "which modes should we choose?".

This is why UITP selected as the focal theme of its 58th UITP World Congress 'Public transport: making the right mobility choices'.

Making the right investment choices has never been more complex. Be it for new infrastructure or for renewing or extending existing infrastructure, the range of available options is wider than ever before.


Yet, appropriate infrastructure is not enough to bring about the desired modal shift. Other empowering measures must be considered. Citizens expect easy, affordable and door-to-door mobility solutions. Suppliers and operators want to develop new products and services within a stable and transparent business framework, and depend therefore on authorities. Our industry has also to become more visible, understandable and trustworthy for banks and investors.

The 58th UITP World Congress is an unrivalled opportunity for all the actors of the public transport chain not only to acquire the appropriate tools to perform a comprehensive analysis of their mobility options, but also a means to convince their internal and external counterparts to share their vision of mobility.

Roberto Cavalieri
UITP President
Hans Rat
UITP Secretary General

 

 
 

All urban decision-makers face the issue of providing publictransport to meet citizen's needs efficiently. The 58th UITP Congress will:
> Present the most up-to-date options with their advantages and drawbacks;
> Review all parameters to take into account: planning, costs, capacity, urban integration, operation, management;
> Consider the impact of geography and culture on public transport;
> Provide a broad view of the issues and a framework, enabling delegates to take the best possible decisions for the short, medium and long term.

This will allow delegates to take a complete 'tool kit' home.