Public Transit is an Investment not a Cost: Perspectives from UITP - Mohamed Mezghani

Our cities have been suffering from the negative impact of the intense use of cars for many years. The consequences of car traffic are dramatic in terms of road safety, social exclusion, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, health, and so on. It’s time to end the century of car domination and put people back at the heart of the city and its mobility system. This is possible by making cities walkable with public transport as the backbone, complemented by cycling and shared mobility solutions. Public transport is an investment, not a cost. Besides being a way to travel sustainably, it boosts the economy, provides access to jobs and makes the city a better place to live in. Governments must recognise the benefits of public transport and ensure those who benefit from it pay for its development, not only the travellers. Also, it is important to define a fair governance scheme by better distributing responsibilities between public authorities and transport operators, and establish appropriate business models. In this context, leveraging on technological advancements should make operations more efficient and public transport easier to use for the benefit of all.