If we want stainable mobility the world must be ambitious in the way we look at our cities. Paris is one of the capital cities that is addressing sustainable transport choices to make for a more climate friendly environment. Paris decided in 2018 to invent something new that needed a bit of political will and conviction to succeed.
The transportation of people and goods accounts for nearly 1/4 of global carbon dioxide emissions making it one of the greatest challenges facing cities today.
It also presents a great opportunity for low-carbon urban development. Cities around the world have begun to recognize these opportunities and are busy transitioning from the current fossil fuel dependency to a future built on energy efficiency and renewable energy. This protects the planet while improving people’s lives mobility
Air quality
One of the most important aspects that has an influence on climate change is air quality. It also greatly influences the quality of life of citizens. Air is very much involved in the sustainable transport and environmentally friendly mobility program.
An electric and bike sharing system helps to reduce the individual cars within the city of Paris and that policy benefits everyday life for the people. The role of the private sector and the role of the cities of the future is extremely important.
The private sector must be part of the solution to sustainable urban mobility and requires a mind shift. We must move from carbon-intensive modes of transport to more sustainable solutions like electric vehicles, car sharing, the expansion of bicycle and pedestrian lanes as well as an overall shift from road to rail freight.
Fifty percent of all the trips that happen in Paris are less than eight kilometers and this is where the bike becomes very efficient for these shorter trips. The public bike system has been increased with more bike lanes.
Cycling is an important part of a sustainable transport plan
The culture to have responsible cyclists is important as cities of the future will be much more dense. The streets will be much more narrow and transport suppliers need to be able to fit into that with new technologies, new sizes of trucks and buses for instance going electric.
Nowadays you can even have your bus stop inside a building that you live in and you don’t need to go out in the rain to wait for the bus. Bus Rapid Transit or BRT is another promising transport solution for cities here buses are given priority through a system of dedicated bus lanes which enables them to avoid traffic congestion and thereby run more quickly and efficiently.
The BRT system in Mexico City has allowed public transport in many of the the busiest and more important streets in Mexico City. Because the BRT lines have been so successful they are being increased. The city card for transport includes the BRT lines, the subway station, the electric system for public transport but also the public bike system are all included within this same card.
Changing public behavior
The biggest challenges are how you change behavior of the public. Policy is how you take people on board with you. We all collectively accept that the the world is changing the way the city is organized.
A city must have citizens prepared to change the way they look at their City and are using that. Cities can’t do this alone and are often dependent on the participation of their citizens. We need to encourage the communities to consider alternative means of transport such as cycling and public transport.
Everybody must accept responsibility to reduce carbon emissions in the city. Adapting solutions to local conditions enable cities to provide transportation options to people in low-income areas. This can set off a whole chain of positive outcomes such as better access to services as well as the local job market.
From an economic perspective it’s very much connected between transport growth and GDP growth. We can create environments where people, businesses, cities and countries all grow at the same time.
Sustainable transport and affect on air quality
The co2 footprint is reduced by sustainable transport solutions. You can combine the economic sustainability, the environmental sustainability and the social sustainability. Stakeholder engagement is the key to success as we aim to significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions particularly in the area of sustainable urban mobility.
We need to see engagement at all levels and throughout society. Decision-makers who dare to implement bold public policies, innovative companies that contribute to the creation of people centered low-carbon solutions and citizens who strongly support the development of attractive sustainable places to live and work.
Read more: Air pollution – How supply chain bottlenecks are affecting air quality
