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The reduction of mobility needs in urban areas is highly influenced by urban
planning. As the Impact Assessment within the White Paper on the Roadmap to
a Single European Transport Area concludes:
“Significant changes in urban mobility require comprehensive actions that
bring together land-use planning, road use and parking, transport pricing,
infrastructure development, public transport policy and much more.
Achieving integrated and sustainable urban transport is an increasingly
complex task which touches many stakeholders and interests.” (EC 2011b)
Collaborative/community based consumption is a meaningful opportunity to reduce
mobility needs and car use. Car-sharing systems are becoming more and
more popular while shared offices enable people to work closer to their homes.
Video conferencing systems reduce the need for business travel. New options
and ideas for holidays can also help reduce travel needs related to vacationing
(Promising practice 16).
Reducing car dependency requires better facilities and alternatives (Promising
practice 17). Examples of cities that aim to be car-free include Barcelona,
Freiburg, Geneva and Vitoria-Gasteiz. These cities demonstrate that congestion
charges, limiting parking places and pedestrian zones working in combination
can create the conditions to significantly reduce car use (Promising practice 18).
Campaigns and initiatives to support cycling or taking the bus to school and work
have shown that this is a viable and sustainable alternative for mobility from an
environmental, economic and social point of view (Promising practice 19).
From an environmental standpoint “green technologies” and innovation, such as
new types of fuels, more efficient vehicles and new modes of mobility can bring
great opportunities but only if potential rebound effects are avoided. Electric
vehicles, for example, could benefit the environment (depending on the source
of electricity) and would reduce direct harmful environmental effects of exhaust
gases. But one rebound effect could include increased congestion if electric
vehicles result in more cars on roads. Technology, however, can also play an
important role in helping to make public transportation or car sharing schemes
more attractive (Promising practice 20).
Promising practices
Promising practice 19: “Happy Bus” project in Parma
This project, implemented by the local public transport
company in collaboration with the municipality of Parma,
is a service that collects young students from elementary
and middle schools from the front of their homes and takes
them to school. It is a high quality service, with 45 ecological
methane powered buses. Some 1,250 children from 50
schools use the service daily.
Promising practice 20:
Sarecar – Shared electric cars in Ataun
Ataun has become the first village in Europe to set in motion
a public renting service for shared electric vehicles. This
novel initiative, called Sarecar, has been in operation since
January 2011. The main aim is to create a sustainable mobility
model by replacing most of families’ second cars with
shared electric cars.
The Foral County of Gipuzkoa, Kutxa saving bank and the
Basque Government financed the project together with the
Spanish Energy company Iberdrola. The energy the cars
consume comes from renewable energy sources.
Challenges and opportunities for sustainable lifestyles 67