With a monthly mobility budget of 132 euros, Portugal ranks fifth in the list of countries spending the most per month on mobility, ahead of France (131 euros), the Czech Republic (125 euros) and Spain (108 euros), but below Italy (138 euros). This is one of the conclusions of the 2nd Europ Assistance Mobility Barometer, conducted by Ipsos in eight European markets. This figure results from the average expenditure on fuel, tolls, parking, bicycles, scooters and TVDE (individual and paid passenger transport of vehicles demarcated from an electronic platform), excluding car insurance, with an average value of 147 euros in the six countries where the survey was carried out.
This study also shows that, in Portugal, walking is the most used means of transport during the week (91%). The personal car is the second most common means of transport (83%), and public transport is in third place (42%). During the weekend, mobility by personal car is more common (40%) and the use of public transport decreases (8%).
This barometer also concludes that the personal car is still very widespread in Europe. Most Europeans (87%) have a car at home and 84% use it daily. Most cars are either petrol or diesel.
In terms of future choices, in addition to walking, Europeans intend to use public transport and cycling more.
Young people (aged 18-34) are well ahead of the rest of the European population when it comes to using cleaner modes of transport, with 72% using public transport (compared to 55% of the general population).
Challenges and solutions for the new mobility paradigm
The development of cities has influenced the approach to mobility and urban transport operations as they face a continuous increase in the number of inhabitants over time.
Urban mobility is one of the main challenges, and it is crucial to increase the efficiency of the mobility system as a whole in order to meet its main challenge: decarbonisation.
Excessive use of the car to get around, due to the need to move quickly or to living in decentralised areas that do not offer transport alternatives suited to citizens’ needs, gives rise to numerous problems that arise in cities as a result of mobility, such as increased congestion, accidents, longer journey times, excessive fuel consumption, degradation of air quality, noise pollution, loading and unloading in inappropriate places and times, accessibility and road safety problems, among many others.
According to the ZERO Association, the transport sector, in particular road transport, is the main source of air pollution in urban areas in Portugal, contributing to 6,000 premature deaths per year in the country and to a total of 300,000 in Europe.
With this in mind, we are aware that the strategy to control these problems requires a series of measures, from a thorough review of the road network and parking and traffic policies to alternative and disruptive measures to finance public transport and alternative methods of travel for citizens.
It is in this sense that the need arises to rethink cities and urban centres, as well as to reverse the prioritisation of the car as a means of transport, giving way to other modes of mobility, in order to make public space more efficient and prepared to respond to the needs of its citizens, always with respect for environmental, economic and social sustainability.
However, this paradigm shift faces some challenges, such as infrastructures designed for the individual vehicle and even the very structure of cities, which tends to prioritise the car, offering fewer alternatives for more active mobility, such as bicycles, scooters and walking. Public transport services also need to be strengthened.
To make public spaces fit for the future, and for conventional cities to move towards the concept of green cities, ensuring that we reach carbon neutrality by 2050, it is crucial to rethink parking. They must offer alternatives to individual vehicle mobility by adapting them to soft modes, for example by providing parking and charging facilities for bicycles and electric scooters.
As well as limiting the circulation of polluting vehicles by introducing Low Emission Zones (LEZs) in urban areas, as this reduces pollution and improves local air quality. In addition, reducing vehicle speed limits helps to harmonise the use of different modes of mobility on the roads.
In addition, to enhance the use of soft modes as a transport option, it is essential to reinforce the cycle lane network by making it wider and safer and by implementing more inclusive traffic signals.
The public transport network must also be renewed. It is crucial to modernise the vehicle fleet, investing in less polluting vehicles, extending the service timetables and making progress in the territorial extension of its coverage. As well as ensuring the integration of intermobility in the sector, through the provision of bicycle and scooter rental services at transport interchanges.
In the process of rethinking cities, technology is a fundamental tool that is transforming mobility, providing innovative solutions for the community. Smart traffic management systems use advanced sensors and analyse data to monitor and control traffic in real time, helping to identify congestion points, optimising traffic light timings and adjusting them to the flow of traffic to improve traffic flow. It also optimises systems for ride sharing and soft mode rental.
Pedestrians also benefit from the technology. Traffic lights integrated into these systems make traffic more accessible to people with mobility difficulties or disabilities, increasing their safety.
We also talk about the integration of technology in public transport operating systems, which saves time and improves the logistics of the sector. But also the use of technology in public lighting, which allows for more efficient management of luminosity and visibility on public roads.
Thus, by rethinking cities with the challenges of the future in mind, reformulating urban mobility infrastructures, prioritising soft modes over individual car use, we can establish plans in cities to reconsider the use of public space, transforming it into green, leisure and commercial spaces. This option makes it possible to improve people’s quality of life and move towards an ecological transition, accompanied by economic and social development.
LINKS
● Repensar cidades, o desafio das próximas décadas
● Repensar as cidades hoje, para que possamos viver melhor amanhã
● Cidades com menos carros, porquê?
● Five Cities Show the Future of Walkability
● How Can Walkable Cities Become the Norm?
● International Transport Forum
