Public transport needs stable financing, cities require a new urban mobility culture and
efforts must be made to limit traffic congestion; these were the main messages to
emerge from the academic session organised on car-free Sunday during the
celebration of the 125th anniversary of the International Association of Public
Transport (UITP).

“Public transport-sector businesses shall not survive without a major push from the public authorities. Public transport needs stable financing schemes based on long-term objectives. Yearly budgets are not conducive to public transport businesses; we need stable public revenue”, stated UITP President Alain Flausch in front of the 350 guests who came from all around the world.

“Mobility is a fundamental right for everyone. The qualitative development of public
transportation really constitutes a top priority”, said Brigitte Grouwels, Minister of the
Government of the Brussels-Capital Region responsible for Public Works and Transport. “By 2018, traffic in Brussels must drop by 20% in comparison with 2001. This is an ambitious goal. In order to reach it, I will strongly promote alternative modes of transportation: pedestrians, cyclists and, last but not least, public transportation.”
Addressing the representatives of the European Institutions, President Flausch added “if we really want to enable modal shift and social inclusion, EU money must be reallocated to public transport.”

European Commission Vice-President Kallas backed UITP suggestions, stating that one of the major concerns of European citizens today is congestion; hence “we need a new culture for urban mobility. Public transport must be an attractive and comfortable alternative to cars – not torture!”

As a symbol of UITP’s global mission to double public transport market share worldwide by 2025, H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), also stressed RTA’s efforts in boosting public transport modes in Dubai: “Public transport should be positioned as a top-level lifestyle product, and for RTA, customer experience is a top priority. At the UITP World Congress in Dubai, we will start another 125 years of improving people’s living conditions”.

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Notes to editors:
UITP (International Association of Public Transport) is the international network for public transport authorities and operators, policy decision-makers, scientific institutes and the public transport supply and service industry. It is a platform for worldwide cooperation, business development and the sharing of knowhow between its 3,200 members from 90 countries. UITP is the global advocate for public transport and
sustainable mobility, and the promoter of innovations in the sector. Visit www.uitp.org.