Taxis are a vital actor in the New Mobility Agenda. There can be no doubt about that. However, for various reasons – historical, institutional, jurisdictional, work and ownership patterns --they are often hard to bring into a unified big picture. For this reason, World Streets is pleased to share with you this announcement of the International IRU Taxi Forum in the run-up to COP15 in December. More will follow.
International Road Transport Union, Geneva, 17 July 2009
The 3rd International IRU Taxi Forum to focus on latest car technologies and innovative industry practices that make taxi services even greener.
Prior to the United Nations COP15 Climate Change Conference, the 3rd International IRU Taxi Forum on “Taxis for clean air” will be held in Copenhagen on 9 October 2009. Participants will explore the potential and opportunities of latest car technologies and innovative industry practices for greener taxi services, with the view to expedite the introduction of the greenest vehicles and best industry practices to achieve sustainable mobility for all.
The President of the IRU Taxi Group, Hubert Andela, said, “The taxi industry is ready and willing to contribute to cleaner air in our cities by implementing the best and greenest technologies and fuels. It simply makes sense, as authorities, business and customers alike show increased concerns about the ecological footprint of their travels. However, a lot remains to be done by our partners from the manufacturing industry and fuel distributors. But above all, Governments should provide incentives to operators to use alternative fuels as well as greener vehicles to allow for their quicker penetration into the taxi market, especially in these times of economic crisis.”
According to a recent IRU survey, the taxi industry is investing substantially in greener fleets and operational solutions. In countries such as Sweden, Switzerland and Norway, hybrid cars already represent at least 3% of the market share, and an important number of taxis are running on alternative fuels in Brazil (86%), Bulgaria (70%), Germany (22%) or Sweden (18%).
Organised in partnership with the IRU’s Danish Member Association, Dansk Taxi Rad (DTR), the 3rd International Taxi Forum will feature leading representatives of the taxi industry, car manufacturers, electric vehicle promoters and intergovernmental organisations, who will address more than 100 participants from the taxi industry and national and local authorities in Europe and beyond.
* * *
* For the programme of the 3rd International IRU Taxi Forum, click here
* IRU Taxi/Hire car program - click here.
See IRU factsheets on
* Market penetration of fuels other than diesel and petrol in the taxi industry - here
* Market penetration of hybrid cars in the taxi industry - here
* Press contact: Juliette Ebélé, +41 22 918 27 07, Press@iru.org
Monday, July 20, 2009
Taxis for sustainable mobility
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I only wish that at COP-15 in Copenhagen in December, cycling will get at least twice the push that taxis get. According to Francesca Racioppi of the World Health Organisation, cycling is a win-win-win solution.
ReplyDelete( http://www.ecf.com/3540_1 )
win : The environment
win : Health ( incredibly large gains )
win : Economical (Stemming in part from Health)
And after all Copenhagen is known as the City of Cyclists, not the City of Taxis :-)
Recently an Icelandic Governmental Report concluded that the second most cost effective way to reduce GHG emissions in the short to medium term would be to provide better access for daily cycling for transport.
http://www.umhverfisraduneyti.is/utgefid-efni/nr/1442 ( In Icelandic )
Taking the optimistic angle on this, we can hope that world and city leaders realise at COP-15 that what really makes sense above all is to get quick cuts in emissions that have multiple benefits, in short, win-win solutions like energy conservation. Or win-win-win solutions like utility cycling.
And then they will send people politicians ad engineers to Velo City Global in June 2010, a large international Bicycle solutions conference, at the same venue - yes in wonderful Copenhagen - the City of Cyclists.
http://www.velo-city2010.com/
In fact one could expand or add several more factors, to the triplet win-win-win of Raciopppi. Like local pollution. Like more pleasant cities and towns. Like improved sustainability by strengthening local communities, reducing transport work, reducing raw materials waste, saving time etc.
Like cycling being a splendid and visible living symbol of clear promotional value for the necessary transformations we must make.
Taxis are indeed the most flexible mobility solution of all. And the taxi industry is ready and willing to contribute to cleaner air in our cities. Let us not forget that in many countries the taxi fleet is renewed every 3-4 years, which means that taxis are benefiting from the latest technology before anybody else.
ReplyDeleteActually, this is the whole purpose of the Taxi Forum debate in Copenhagen - to take stock of the curent situaiton and see what can be done in the near and more longer term future, in partnership with manufacturers, fuel distributors and authorities.
Those wishing to participate (free of charge) can register at http://www.iru.org/index/en_3rd_taxiforum.
Here at Info Taxi (www.infotaxi.org), as the largest online taxi community worldwide, we think that the industry should receive some real important encouragement from the public authorities. For instance a very positive measure, especially here in Europe, is to reduce or even remove completely the tax on vehicle registration that is a big expense for any taxi driver who wishes to change his work car. The same could apply on other general taxes. If we really want to turn green, then taxi coompanies and independent taxi professionals must see an important ease when it comes to their fiscal burden.
ReplyDeleteGreen Shared Taxis are a complement to bicycles. They are the most car-like, flexible mobility solution and when rides are shared, affordable, convenient and dependable, there is a true alternative to personal car use. They make it possible to go the "last mile", accessing public transportation. If the public adapted to this mode, then on-street parking could be reduced allowing for more bike lanes.
ReplyDeleteGreen Shared Taxis should be encouraged by public authorities.
Ann Hacket, aha@pacific.net