1. Affordable public transport is life-changing and a powerful tool against the climate crisis
Transport accounts for approximately 15% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and is estimated to account for almost a quarter of GHG emissions in the European Union. Improving public transport is essential not only to combat climate change, but also to connect people to opportunities currently denied to them. Mobility justice is climate justice.
In many cities, public transportation is a lifeline for low-income communities. Transport costs and the strain they place on household budgets are significant, with transport costs on average accounting for almost 15% of household budgets in the European Union and 16% in the United States.
Transport costs can have a major impact on climate, air pollution, health and quality of life. High ticket prices can discourage people from using public transport, leading to more cars on the road, more traffic congestion, and more greenhouse gas emissions.
This is why we are following the “climate ticket” initiative with great interest. For example, Austria’s Klitticket and Germany’s Deutschlandticket were recently introduced to encourage the use of public transport and reduce climate change emissions.
In the summer of 2022, Germany has significantly reduced its transportation costs, with monthly airfares now costing just 9 euros. In the first three months of the experiment, an estimated 10 percent of summer rail trips were replaced by car trips, according to a study by Deutsche Bahn and the German Transport Companies Association. The impact on emissions was roughly equivalent to taking 1.5 million cars off the road.
Climate Change Tickets save energy, money, greenhouse gas emissions and time, and people love them.
This is also why we need to change the absurd system that continues to favor air travel over rail. A few weeks ago, we published an analysis showing that traveling by train costs twice as much as a polluting plane for the same trip in Europe.
Of course, making transportation more affordable is just one step we can take. The quality and scope of services also needs to be improved.
2. Affordable public transportation is essential for social equity
Rising energy prices and the global cost of living crisis are exacerbating the challenge of affordable transportation. At worst, rising diesel and gasoline prices create so-called “dual energy vulnerability,” where rising transport costs make it harder for households already struggling to meet their heating, cooking and lighting needs. I am.
Higher fares and higher costs can disproportionately impact marginalized communities. In Brazil, ITDP research shows that black, brown, and low-income Brazilians pay higher fares, take more crowded buses and trains, and have fewer transportation options to reach important destinations. We know that there are few options.
3. Transport access will not be made available without addressing inequality and violence against women.
Women use public transport more often than men on average and are also more dependent on it. This may mean that women are more affected by public transport costs and investments than men.
However, safety concerns can increase costs for women and LGBTQIA+ people. To be able to travel more safely, you may decide to pay additional (hidden) transportation costs, such as taking a taxi or taking a less direct route on public transport. A study by New York University’s Rudin Center dubbed this the “pink tax.” The women interviewed spent an average of $26 to $50 more per month than men to get around the city safely.
Safety in and around public transport is a huge issue for women and the LGBTQIA+ community. Access to transportation may be difficult and opportunities may be limited. The researchers found that, on average, women felt 10% more unsafe than men while traveling on the subway, and 6% less safe on buses.
India, for example, has made some progress in addressing gender equality issues. Following a Greenpeace India campaign, the newly elected Karnataka state government recently introduced free buses for women across the state with the aim of increasing employment opportunities for women.
Women’s labor force participation rates are low in India, with women making up 32.8% of the workforce, compared to an estimated 38% in Bangladesh. The government has reportedly announced that free buses for women in Karnataka have resulted in a 23 per cent increase in bus passengers in the first two weeks. The success of this and other programs across India shows that addressing women’s mobility needs can have significant economic benefits.
4. Accessible public transport is essential for the 1 in 6 people around the world who live with a severe disability
An estimated 1.3 billion people experience severe disability. This equates to 16% of the world’s population, or 1 in 6 people, making public transport accessibility a significant global issue.
London is often cited as a model for accessible public transport. A third of London Underground stations are step-free and all London buses are wheelchair accessible. But much remains to be done to ensure everyone has full access to all stations in London and elsewhere.
Japan has also recently taken steps to improve accessibility. For example, low-floor buses operate in Tokyo, and stations in major cities are being renovated with accessibility in mind. These improvements were demonstrated at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the vulnerability of individuals with disabilities when using public transportation. Safety measures such as mandatory mask-wearing and social distancing posed additional challenges for some passengers with disabilities.
Improving transport access for people with disabilities is essential for climate justice and mobility justice. A transportation system that does not serve everyone is not sustainable.
5. Rural areas also need quality public transportation
In many rural areas around the world, people have no access to public transportation networks at all.
In many rural areas, public transportation is found to be more expensive and travel time longer than in urban areas. Improving access to public transport networks in rural areas not only reduces climate change emissions but also enables people to access key services such as healthcare.
Improving public transport can reduce emissions, increase wages, create jobs, increase physical activity levels, improve social connections and reduce feelings of loneliness.
Making public transportation more accessible and affordable can have a profound impact on individuals, families, communities, and the environment by improving mobility, economic opportunity, health, and overall quality of life. There is a gender.
In approximately 40% of countries, transportation is the largest energy-consuming sector. These facts and figures show that making public transport affordable and accessible must be a priority for governments that say they want to tackle the climate crisis and fight inequality.