Joint statement: Europe must come together to change urban mobility
Brussels, 23 September 2021 – In a joint statement on the EU’s Urban Mobility Framework, a broad coalition of transport stakeholders, including POLIS, stressed that public transport and active mobility must be the foundation on which to build the change we need in our urban mobility systems.
According to the document, public transport and active mobility are the most sustainable, affordable, democratic, dependable, and resilient transport modes and should therefore be placed at the heart of the new EU urban mobility framework.
The statement points out the importance of accelerating the development of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans, shaping appropriate funding opportunities, and creating a good framework for public and private players to cooperate.
Key recommendations include:
- Ensure that Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans accelerate the uptake of sustainable and collective mobility.
- Support sustainable mobility with appropriate funding opportunities.
- Create multimodal mobility on the ground and by harnessing the benefits of data.
The coalition is led by UITP and includes representatives of local and regional authorities, public transport operators, local and regional transport authorities, railway and infrastructure companies, the rail supply industry, passenger organisations and advocates for walking, cycling, disability rights and better health in Europe.
As the document reads, “the scale and speed of the changes we need requires a wide and concerted effort across all levels of government. The European Commission must ensure Member States fulfil their obligations and support their local authorities in delivering sustainable urban mobility.”
Karen Vancluysen, Secretary General of POLIS, said: "As Europe builds back from the Covid-19 pandemic, cities and regions across Europe are making great efforts to build greener, smarter, safer, and more accessible urban mobility networks. The new Urban Mobility Framework should enable local and regional authorities to deliver these objectives, investing in affordable and attractive public transport and active mobility, complemented with policy-responsive innovation.”
Read the full statement here.
