Safe and Sustainable Cities by Public Transport

Road traffic injuries are the 10th leading cause of death globally, and 90% of these losses are responsible for about 1.3 million deaths each year, in developing countries. About 50 million people are injured every year on the roads of the world.

Therefore, UITP and ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability) came together to prepare a report on how road safety and public transport can contribute to Sustainable Development Goals by striving for sustainable and sustainable cities.

Road Safety and Sustainable Development Goals

A certain Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) was added to the 2030 Agenda, recognizing the obstacle to road traffic injuries to development efforts. The target calls for a 2020% reduction in road traffic deaths by 50. SDGs also define solutions for the road safety problem in urban areas (SDG 11). SDG 11.2 recognizes the importance of accessing a safe and sustainable urban transport system for all, and refers specifically to “improving road safety, particularly by broadening public transport”.

The 'Safe System' approach and 'Vision Zero' strategies are increasingly used by policy makers for road safety. These attitudes shift the responsibility for road safety from individual road users to those responsible for the various functions of the transport system. The focus is on roads, vehicles and stakeholders using the road transport system. Public transport officials and operators can play an important role in the next Decade of Action, as the transportation system is vital.

How to Contribute to Public Transport Road Safety

The UN Decade of Action (2010-2020) and the UN Urban Agenda adopts the Safe System principles and encourages the promotion and use of public transport to help solve the road safety problem. Although it has been proven that cities with high public transport have reduced traffic mortality by half, the role of public transport is currently ignored in most road safety planning. This large drop is associated with higher public transport use and compact development reducing trust in private transport use.

Activities taken as part of the New Decade of Action will also have an impact on other sustainability, for example, safer environments for pedestrians and cyclists, and less public use in public transport will reduce CO2 emissions, increase air quality and reduce congestion. - and helps to develop a more active and healthy population. As an example of good practices, Delhi Metro (India) carries 2,8 million passengers a day, replacing 400.000 vehicles on the road, preventing 300.000 tons of oil imports per year and 70 tons of pollutants every day. Vehicles save 32 minutes on their journey and about 135 road deaths are avoided annually.

Steps Towards Safe and Sustainable Cities

In order to halve road fatalities and serious injuries, a new UN road safety target is needed in 2030. Public transport investments in infrastructure and services offer a new opportunity to ensure road safety clearly attracts the fund it deserves.

Sustainable Public Transport in Columbia

UITP is working with the National Government of Colombia on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at making and developing public transport in Colombia a comprehensive and sustainable system. Memorandum of Understanding (20 February 2020) was signed in Stockholm. Cooperation with UITP will include information exchange and support for projects promoting safe and sustainable transport.