The Role of Active Travel and Public Transport in the New Mobility Paradigm

At last year’s COP26, pressure from advocacy groups led to a last-minute insertion in the Transport Declaration which acknowledged the importance of active travel, public and shared transport in achieving climate goals:

‘We recognize that alongside the shift to zero emission vehicles, a sustainable future for road transport will require wider system transformation, including support for active travel, public and shared transport, as well as addressing the full value chain impacts from vehicle production, use and disposal.‘

Indeed, sustainable modes such as walking, cycling, public transport and rail must play a much greater role in the transport and mobility mix if we are to ever achieve Paris Agreement targets. Yet these modes often lack the priority and funding they require to maximise the environmental, health, socioeconomic and liveability benefits they can deliver.

A successful wider system transformation towards these sustainable modes will require not only prioritisation and funding but also an integrated approach between active and public transport that nurtures the symbiotic relationship between walking, cycling and public transit in our cities.

Moderator: Lucie Anderton (UIC).

Confirmed speakers: Professor Juan Carlos Munoz (Minister of Transport, Santiago, Chile), Bronwen Thornton (Walk21), Francois Davenne (UIC), Jill Warren (ECF), Mohamed Mezgahani (UITP), Cecile Texier (Alstom Transport) Cecilia Andersson (UN Habitat), Eamon Ryan (Minister for Transport and Minister for Climate of Ireland), Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim (Land Transport Authority, Singapore).