If you click here you will be taken to the European Commission's proposed "Action Plan for Urban Mobility" for the period 2009 to 2012. That's very interesting for the New Mobility Agenda and World Streets since that is our target period for those reductions 5 to 50% GHG reductions and all that goes with it. Does it give you a sense of high urgency which is ours here? We invite discussion and comment here.
Brussels, 30 September 2009
What can the EU do?
The EU can stimulate cities to develop policies which will help to reach the EU objectives of combating climate change, creating an efficient European transport system and strengthening social cohesion.
With the Action Plan, the European Commission presents for the first time a comprehensive support package in the field of urban mobility. Local, regional and national authorities are free to use this support, and the tools that will be offered. Using them will help to address the challenge of sustainable urban mobility and facilitate their policy making. In addition, Europe's citizens and companies will benefit from this on a daily basis.
The actions foreseen will:
* Promote integrated policies to deal with the complexity of urban transport systems, governance issues and the necessary coherence between different policies, for example between urban mobility and cohesion policy, environment policy or health policy.
* Focus on citizens' needs by promoting reliable travel information and a high level of protection of passenger rights.
* Help to green urban transport by introducing new, clean vehicle technologies and alternative fuels and promoting smart charging to encourage transport users to change travel behaviour.
* Address funding by exploring existing funding opportunities, innovative public-private partnership schemes and possible new funding solutions.
* Support sharing experience and knowledge to enable better access to this information and help stakeholders to capitalise on these experiences and on relevant data and statistics.
* Optimise urban mobility to encourage effective integration, interoperability and interconnection between different transport networks.
* Improve road safety to achieve a high level of road safety, especially for vulnerable road users such as young people and the elderly.
Why an action plan now?
European towns and cities face ever-growing challenges to make urban transport sustainable. These challenges have been discussed in the Green Paper on urban mobility (1) that the Commission adopted in September 2007. They must be addressed if the European Union’s overall strategy to combat climate change, achieve objectives for energy efficiency and renewable energies, and strengthen social and economic cohesion is to succeed.
Nine out of ten EU citizens believe that the traffic situation in their area should be improved (2).
Citizens' travel affects not only urban development but also the economy. Towns and cities need free-flowing, efficient transport systems. But urban transport is also an essential component of long-distance transport. Most passengers and freight start and end their journeys in urban areas and pass through several urban areas on their way. Urban transport is thus a vital element of a competitive and sustainable European transport system.
Why does action at EU level add value?
In general local authorities are themselves best placed to define and implement urban mobility policies adapted to local circumstances. But they face common problems. The EU can support them and enable and encourage the development of a new culture for urban mobility in Europe, without prescribing one-size-fits-all or top-down solutions. This approach was supported by stakeholders during the consultation that followed the adoption of the Green Paper.
There is much to be gained from working together at EU level and mobilising EU resources to support action at local, regional and national levels.
The exchange of information and the development and testing of new solutions can be done efficiently at EU level. EU-wide dissemination and replication of new, innovative approaches can enable public authorities to achieve more, better and at lower cost.
What are the actions?
The Action Plan includes twenty actions addressing the following issues:
Improved information: To help making travel easier, the Commission will work with public transport operators and authorities on better travel information. It will study the different access rules for green or environmental zones that have been introduced across the EU and consider the need for further action.
Passenger rights: The Commission will work with stakeholders to agree a set of voluntary commitments on passenger rights in urban transport. In recognition of the fact that persons with disabilities have the right of access to urban transport on equal terms with the rest of the population, it will include urban mobility in the EU Disability Strategy.
Better planning: Integrated planning can provide a good response to the many mobility challenges that cities are faced with. To accelerate the take-up of sustainable urban mobility plans in cities and regions the Commission will prepare information material and launch promotional activities. It will also produce guidance documents on important aspects of these plans, such as urban freight distribution and intelligent transport systems for urban mobility.
Greener transport: Many citizens would like transport to become greener. The Commission will continue to support research and demonstration projects, for example on lower and zero-emission vehicles. It will set up an internet guide with information on clean and energy-efficient vehicles and discuss with Member States how energy-efficient driving could be included in private drivers' driving tests. The Commission will also discuss urban mobility issues with stakeholders from the health sector.
Sharing experiences: To help policy makers to share experiences, the Commission will establish a database with information on the wide range of tested solutions that are already in place. This database will also include an overview of EU legislation and financial instruments relevant to urban mobility and offer educational tools. The Commission will study how to improve the availability of data and statistics, facilitate information exchange on urban pricing and encourage international dialogue on urban mobility with Europe's neighbouring regions and global partners.
Funding: Finally, funding is often a key issue. The Commission will work to streamline existing EU funding sources and look at future funding needs. It will also prepare a guidance document on sustainable urban mobility and Cohesion Policy and study the effectiveness and efficiency of different urban transport pricing solutions. Education, information and awareness-raising campaigns play an important role in the creation of a new culture for urban mobility. The Commission will therefore continue to support the organisation of public awareness campaigns, for example the European Mobility Week.
When do the actions come into place?
The actions will be launched over the next four years. In 2012 the Commission will conduct a review of the implementation of this Action Plan and assess the need for further action.
For Further informationMore information on the Action Plan on Urban Mobility can be found at: http://ec.europa.eu/transport/urban/urban_mobility/urban_mobility_en.htm
(1) : Towards a new culture for urban mobility. COM (2007) 551.
(2) : Attitudes on issues related to EU Transport Policy. Flash Eurobarometer 206b, July 2007.
Friday, October 2, 2009
European Commission Action Plan for Urban Mobility - Discussion and comments invited
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Brussels, 2 October 2009
ReplyDeleteThe 20 actions the Commission announced this week in the Action Plan fail to take cycling as the sustainable urban transport mode into account properly. Hence the European Cyclists' Federation is disappointed with this draft Action Plan.
Read ECF response here : 091002_ECF PressR_Draft Action Plan on urban mobility.pdf
http://www.ecf.com/misc/filePush.php?mimeType=application/pdf&fullPath=http://www.ecf.com/files/2/121/091002_ECF_PressR_Draft_Action_Plan_on_urban_mobility.pdf
Polis network of cities and regions, welcomes the release of the European Action Plan on Urban Mobility
ReplyDeleteFor several years now, European cities and regions - through the medium of city networks - have called for an ambitious European policy on urban mobility. It is therefore with great pleasure that Polis welcomes the Action Plan, a second landmark after the Green paper towards the definition of the European policy on urban mobility. Polis sees potential in the Action Plan in supporting the development of a new urban mobility culture which includes a shift towards more environmentally friendly modes of transport.
Therefore, Polis is happy to support the European Commission in implementing the Action Plan. In particular, Polis is willing to help in bringing the urban mobility observatory to life.
Polis president M. Francesc Narvaez, Councillor from Barcelona expressed his satisfaction and "looks forward to supporting the implementation of the Action plan and to engage in a dialogue to further deepen the European policy on urban mobility. "
M. Karsten Möring, Cllr from Cologne attended the press conference held for the release of the Action Plan in Brussels, and hosted by vice-president Tajani during which he "welcomed the emphasis of the European Commission on the definition and provision of guidance for cities." Indeed, guidance at the European level is most welcome on several topics, and is likely to steer the development of mobility in our cities in the right direction.
He particularly stressed "the importance of supporting the take-up of sustainable urban mobility plans." Even if there are no one-size-fits-all solutions, there are processes which can help to identify the best solutions, and which allow the possibility of involving citizens in the future of mobility in their cities, and this is what is meant by sustainable urban mobility plans.
The most important challenge for our urban mobility systems in the years to come will be the funding of public transport in the context of an ageing society and the increasing scarcity of public funding. Mrs Helma Orosz, Mayor of Dresden, "welcomed the initiative of the Commission to address directly this question of funding" and looks forward to having a constructive dialogue on this fundamental issue to which there is no simple answer. "If we want to preserve the well- being of our citizens and the quality of life in our cities, we have no choice but collectively, at all levels of government, with all partners, to provide good quality public transport" said Mrs Orosz.
The second important challenge, obviously related to public transport as well, is our ability to contain the impact of urban mobility on the environment, to contribute to fight climate change while preserving for our citizens the accessibility to services, jobs and leisure. For this we need to work with all actors for cleaner urban transport.
M. Stéphane Coppey, President of Toulouse transport authority Tisséo, views the announcement by the European Commission that it will continue to support research and demonstration projects in a positive light: projects, for example, on lower and zero emissions vehicles. He trusts that this "will lead to the continuity of the CIVITAS programme, a flagship initiative which has helped to bring change to urban mobility in many cities and has the potential to do much more if it receives adequate funding over the coming years." He also hopes that beyond this, cities will be able to have a constructive dialogue on a future European programme supporting urban mobility in the next financial period.
For further information, please contact:
Sylvain Haon
+ 32 486 02 25 14
shaon@polis-online.org
Oliver JUNG, Policy & Communication Officer
Polis - European cities & regions networking for innovative transport solutions
________________________________________
Contact: ojung@polis-online.org
Phone: +32 2 500 56 72
Website: http://www.polis-online.org
(Here is the full statement of the European Cyclists’ Federation. Source: http://www.ecf.com/files/2/121/091002_ECF_PressR_Draft_Action_Plan_on_urban_mobility.pdf )
ReplyDeleteECF Press Release on Draft Action Plan Urban Mobility
Brussels, 2 October 2009
The 20 actions the Commission announced this week in the Action Plan fail to take cycling as the sustainable urban transport mode into account properly. Hence the European Cyclists’ Federation is disappointed with this draft Action Plan.
Nowadays many towns and cities realize that cycling is part of the solution for many problems they face. Many municipalities across Europe work on improving their cycling policy. Unfortunately the European Commission does not draw the same conclusion and is apparently not willing to make choice in favour of increased cycling shares in the cities. The EU executive body wants ‘to encourage citizens to become less car-dependent’, ‘make transport sustainable in environmental (CO2, air pollution, noise) and competitiveness (congestion)’, ‘address social concerns’ and ‘respond to health problems’. Cycling addresses all these issues. Therefore the Commission should support cycling in the cities more courageously.
The Charter of Brussels, signed meanwhile by almost 50 cities, European Vice President Siim Kallas, the European Economic and Social Committee in May 2009, called upon the European Parliament and the European Commission:
- to set a target of at least 15 % for the share of cycling in the modal split by 2020;
- to establish the post of European Bicycle Officer in the administration of the European Commission;
- to create a “Parliamentary Intergroup on Cycling” in the European Parliament;
- to put adequate budgets at the disposal of European programs for the financial support of cities and NGOs promoting cycling in Europe.
The Action Plan on Urban Mobility is a good chance to establish the position of a European Bicycle Officer as a concrete action now. The ECF will continue to call upon the European Commission to implement this. This position will help the Commission to guarantee that different EU policies – on transport, regional development, environment, health, road safety, social policy, etc. – will not ignore cycling as one of the key solutions for a sustainable development all European cities have to face right now. All those potentials can and have to be used more thoroughly: The economic, the environmental and the social aspects of sustainability call for more cycling.
Ends
Note to the editor
Mission statement of ECF:
Founded in 1983, the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF) is the umbrella federation of 60 bicycle user and related associations from Europe and beyond. On behalf of our members, we are pledged to ensure that bicycle use achieves its fullest potential so as to bring about sustainable mobility and public well-being. To achieve these aims, the ECF seeks to change attitudes, policies and budget allocations at the European level.
The ECF stimulates and organizes the exchange of information and expertise on bicycle related transport policies and strategies as well as the work of the cyclists’ movement.
Contact:
Dr Bernhard Ensink
Secretary General
European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF)
Rue Franklin 28
B-1000 Brussels
Mobile: +31 641 744350
b.ensink@ecf.com