Dozens of leaders of global public transport sector joined the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) and signed the Barcelona Declaration in an effort to demonstrate their unwavering commitment to public transport. The signing ceremony took place at the UITP 2023 summit held for the third time in Barcelona, Spain.
The declaration serves as a testament to the undeniable and indispensable role of public transport in daily lives, benefiting everyone, everywhere. It plays an intrinsic role in facilitating movement, fostering employment, supporting cities and economies, preserving the environment, promoting good health, and much more.
“As the public transport sector, representing all shared and collective modes of public transport, we stand for people, for our staff, for the persons we bring to their destinations, for everyone,” the signatories say.
The declaration highlights the tremendous role public transport has for “people, progress and planet” the three core elements of the document.
Public transport connects people by linking communities, strengthening the social fabric throughout the world. This sector makes travel accessible and affordable and offers equal opportunities to everyone while guaranteeing access to essential services like schools, hospitals and work. A good public transport infrastructure takes private cars off the road and improves road safety and frees up space for people. Public transport improves people’s health as determines people to involve in active mobility (walking or cycling), improves air quality and fights air pollution, which the World Health Organisation (WHO) associates with 4.2 million premature deaths per year.
With a modal shift to public transport, traffic volumes decrease resulting in lower exposure to traffic noise, giving you a better night’s sleep and relieving hypertension.
“We stand for a flourishing economy. Public transport connects people to jobs, training and leisure, supports tourism, increases land and property value, and helps all areas thrive. It even does this beyond towns and cities through connections and jobs in its supply chain, which deliver the infrastructure and vehicles needed,” the declaration says. According to UITP, one euro invested in this sector generates 4-5 euro to the local economy.
At the sale time, this sector is among the largest employers at the local level providing secure local jobs and involves diverse staff, with very different backgrounds. In addition, it is committed to increasing the employment of women and reinforces social inclusion. For the same amount invested, public transport creates 25% more jobs than road construction.
Public transport fosters and is driven by innovation, “from providing e-mobility long before electric cars were used, to deploying autonomous metros for over 35 years. As the sector looks to the future, new research and development areas include hydrogen, artificial intelligence, autonomous road vehicles, and many others.”
As climate change is the most challenge the world is facing, public transport is the best option to reduce transport emissions contributing to global ambitious goals. In addition, the sector is rapidly advancing and is committed to continue to decarbonise itself. Through the Barcelona Declaration, UITP and the CEOs are standing for the planet. “We believe in public transport because it is the most climate friendly way of traveling besides walking and cycling. Public transport carbon emissions per passenger are 3 to 4 times lower than with cars. For citizens’ daily mobility, a modal shift to collective public transport and active mobility is needed if we want to achieve our climate goals.”
The signatories of the declaration include transport operators and local and regional institutions and the transport related industry, from all around the world. UITP says that the Barcelona Declaration remains open for signatures, and CEOs of UITP’s Premium members are invited to express their support.
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