TRENDSETTER - Setting Trends for a Sustainable Urban Mobility
Overview
Background & policy context:
Satisfying mobility for both people and goods is essential for the vitality of our cities, and a well functioning transport system is vital for a good life in the city. However, increased traffic may actually decrease mobility when people and goods get stuck in congestion. Increasing emissions and noise levels threaten citizens' health and make the cities less attractive. In the long term, the issues of climate change and energy scarcity also puts a demand to ameliorate the negative sides of traffic, while keeping the flow of people and goods high.
The Trendsetter project – one of four projects financed by the Civitas I Initiative – has tackled these problems. By setting good examples, the five participating cities Graz, Lille, Pécs, Prague and Stockholm can inspire other cities and show them how to facilitate sustainable mobility.
Objectives:
The TRENDSETTER project aims to:
• Improve mobility and quality of life
• Improve air quality
• Reduce noise and traffic congestion. A challenging goal is to prove that cities can reduce emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels that contribute to global warming and climate change, i.e. that cities can meet the Kyoto goals/Bonn commitments of achieving a 5% annual CO2 reduction solely by using biogas from waste/sewage and bio-fuels from organic waste products.
Other quantified Trendsetter-targets are:
• Reduce NOx emissions by 900 tonnes per year (all cities combined) and
• particulate matter by at least 1800 tonnes per year (all cities combined)
• Save over 850 TJ (20 300 TOE) energy per year (all cities combined).
Methodology:
All Trendsetter cities have made large efforts to improve the public transport system in order to attract more passengers. Some of the measures have aimed at improving the access to public transport, and others to facilitate trip planning for smartest choice.
All Trendsetter cities have made large efforts to improve the public transport system in order to attract more passengers. Some of the measures have aimed at improving the access to public transport, and others to facilitate trip planning for smartest choice.
Lille has improved the safety and security of their public transport system, using both technical equipment and additional personnel. Lille also implemented integrated fares in the region. Both Stockholm and Lille have prepared for implementation of a smart card system. The improved safety and security, the fare integration system, Park&Ride facilities, creation and improvements of multimodal nodes and the implementation of high level of service bus lanes support an increased use of different forms of public transport in Lille.
In Graz, 60 bus and tram stops, situated at important junctions, were rebuilt and improved to make them more customer-friendly. Both Stockholm and Graz have increased the quality of services in the public transport system by using regular quality surveys, real-time information at bus stops and on the Internet, a travel guarantee for delays, mystery shoppers reporting on quality, and incentives for contractors to perform better.
To make the buses more efficient, dynamic bus priority systems have been implemented in Prague and Stockholm, while Lille has introduced a bus lane with high-level service, the first in a future series of twelve similar bus lanes. New bus lines for special needs have been implemented – one to a hospital area in Prague and one between Graz and its suburbs on weekend nights.
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