During the hearing of the Commissioner-designate Sustainable Transport and Tourism on 4 November, Apostolos Tzitzikostas committed to continuing to promote sustainable urban mobility, stating: “I will continue to promote sustainable urban mobility. Today, the average driver in Europe spends 30 hours per year stuck in traffic. Clean public transport can help us reclaim this time while cutting emissions.”
While this verbal commitment is a step in the right direction from the new European government, city leaders are ready to see these words put into action. On 5 November in Barcelona, cities and associations came together to reaffirm their commitments to sustainable, accessible, and resilient public transport systems and call for investments at the European level.
Together, 11 city leaders and associations signed the European Declaration for Sustainable and Attractive Public Transport in Cities. Eurocities’ Secretary General André Sobczak lays out the challenges such a move would address: “Strong public transport systems are key to addressing the urban challenges of the rising cost of living, social cohesion and climate change. As cities take action to make public transport sustainable and attractive, we urge the European institutions to step up investments toward this goal.”
I will continue to promote sustainable urban mobility.
Barcelona takes action
Cities aren’t waiting to take action to improve their own systems. The city of Barcelona itself is using public transport as a lever to address these challenges. First Deputy Mayor for Urban Planning, Ecological Transition, Urban Services, and Housing of Barcelona and Eurocities Shadow Commissioner of Mobility, Laia Bonet, says, “ A fast, affordable and convenient public transport system is one key building block for creating thriving and more inclusive cities. It is what glues our cities together and brings equal opportunities to our neighbourhoods.”
Barcelona is already working to make its system more attractive to users, making it more convenient, sustainable, and accessible. A new tram line was even inaugurated just this month. Connecting Sant Adrià de Besòs and Badalona with L’Eixample, it is planned to eliminate around 2,000 cars daily from Avenida Diagonal.
With the extended tram line, the street also got a makeover. The tram section includes the three new stops running along a renewed Diagonal with wider pavements, a bike lane and more greenery. This tram line will eventually cross the whole city and better connect it to the metropolitan area.
The Barcelona bus network is currently undergoing renovations and an energy transition plan to reach zero emissions by 2030 and reach 25% of the bus fleet with zero emissions by the end of this year.
A fast, affordable and convenient public transport system is one key building block for creating thriving and more inclusive cities.
In alignment with the vision of a truly equitable system, the on-demand bus system has been successfully introduced in areas where there is lower population density and less demand for service. This is part of the city’s initiative to modernise and digitalise the bus network making it more competitive in areas that are typically less connected.
In order to create a safe environment for all users, the administration has identified security as a top priority. Their approach addresses security from all angles to ensure a complete approach. They are adopting more technologically advanced security systems, increasing staff training, developing emergency plans, establishing effective communication channels, and ensuring that all facilities and areas are adequately illuminated and signposted and developing protocols and campaigns to combat sexual harassment and LGTBIphobia.
A seat at the table, funding, and tools
Barcelona’s achievements are a testament to how far ambition can take a city, but investments are still needed at the European level. According to Bonet, the most impactful measure taken at the European level to aid cities in making public transport the most attractive and accessible mode of transport is a seat at the table in European mobility decisions, increased funding, and tools to help reach zero-emission mobility.
“As a new European mandate starts, we want to make it clear to the EU that we, cities, need a seat at the table. If the EU wants to make a reality its target to achieve the target of zero-emissions mobility in cities, we will need more funding and more tools.
“To go further and make its ambitions and targets a reality, the EU needs cities. And we, cities, need the EU to implement and fund more accessible, affordable and inclusive public transport systems across Europe.”
Coordinating for success
The future of urban mobility in Europe hinges on bold, coordinated action across all levels of government. Deputy Mayors of European cities and voices from the public transport community are united in their dedication to transforming public transport into the backbone of sustainable, inclusive, and vibrant cities. They urge national and European policymakers to embrace this vision and collaborate with them to build a greener, fairer future for all.
To go further and make its ambitions and targets a reality, the EU needs cities.
André Sobczak says, “Coordination at the European, national and regional levels will be crucial to maximise these efforts and create public transport systems that truly serve citizens.”
By signing this declaration and their ongoing efforts, the signatories prove that together, it’s possible to position Europe’s cities at the forefront of sustainable urban mobility, setting a global benchmark for accessible, innovative, and eco-friendly public transport, and leading the transition toward zero-emission mobility.
____
Photo credit: A tramway on Diagonal Avenue doing some testing on October 21, 2024 / Norma Vidal
