Europe Following the publication in March of the European Commission White Paper on the future of EU transport policy until 2050, and prior to the European Parliament debate on the future of the European transport policy on 8 September, the International Road Transport Union (IRU) is urging Members of the European Parliament to establish a doubling of collective passenger transport by bus, coach and taxi as a strategic EU objective in order to meet ambitious safety and environmental targets and achieve sustainable mobility.The IRU recommends the EC develops, in public-private partnership, a dedicated strategy and action plan on how to effectively promote collective passenger transport by bus, coach and taxi through business friendly legislation. Also, support for industry’s best practices and user-friendly initiatives, such as Bus Rapid Transit, the transit system with the flexibility of buses, and the speed, comfort and reliability of rail, which offers a comprehensive mass transit service at a fraction of typical costs and enjoys growing popularity around the world.
“Only by placing buses, coaches and taxis at the heart of public transport policy, using best industry practices which have encouraged significant shifts from cars to collective passenger transport, can policy-makers create the necessary legislative, market and operational conditions to encourage change in mobility patterns at the lowest cost for society,” said Graham Smith, IRU vice president.
Industry recommendations and best practices will be presented and discussed by a panel at an event jointly organised by the European Parliament, the European Commission and the IRU on 7 September in Brussels on “The Role and Place of Collective Passenger Transport by Bus, Coach and Taxi in the EU Transport System and Policy”.
