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Daily public shuttle trips are expected to reach 290 million by 2050 and will be the main mobility solution for cities worldwide — Supplied photos
While the world population is expected to grow to 8.3 billion by 2030, public transport will remain the backbone of multi-modal mobility services in the future. This was affirmed by a transport expert, who predicted a significant spike in the use of public transport in the region by 2025.
“Day-to-day public shuttle trips are (expected) to reach 290 million by 2050 against 40 million in 2005,” Dr Michael Lichtenegger, managing director, Neue Urbane Mobilitat Wien GmbH, told Khaleej Times on the sidelines of the Mena Transport Congress and Exhibition 2014.
Public transport strengths Good customer relation Best connection with politics and politicians and city-administration Trusted by mobile citizens (Commitment to public welfare - reliability on the long run) Ability to collaborate with competing companies under one umbrella |
Predicting a “thrilling” urban mobility in the future, Dr Lichtenegger said public transport is the efficient and sustainable solution bearing in mind that investing in future mobility is the real innovation. “There will be critical changes in lifestyles, and these will cause changes in mobility behaviour, and people will be sharing economy, and steering away from individualism.”
Growing world population means that there is a need for 50 per cent more energy, 40 per cent more water, and 35 per cent more food. “Public transport shall then be the main mobility solution for cities worldwide ... Collaborative consumption shall be changing the way we live.”
Lichtenegger, who is also the chairman, Marketing & Product Development Commission – Austria, International Association of Public Transport (UITP), said a trend toward ‘de-motorisation’ is developing, mainly among the young generation.
“BMW Group earlier announced that young citizens buy even more cars than ever, but they drive less often, and mobility behaviour today is situational and multi-modal usage-based.”
He said young people today would rather have the latest smart phone than a flashy car. “By 2050, there will be no more conventionally-fueled cars in cities as per the EU Commission.”
Individualised public transportation portfolio will be made available on demand. Daily public shuttle trips are expected to reach 290 million by 2050
Dr Lichtenegger said the future mobility solution may lie in clean cars, but they still waste space, endanger safety and health, and cause noise. “Green congestion is still congestion. Public transport in urban regions will be the backbone of personal mobility, and the complementary, innovative mobility services will create more individualised public transportation portfolio available on demand. Walking and cycling will be back on stage even stronger than today, and cars will be used selectively.”
The future market is to see a full bouquet of multi-modal mobility choices and a complex range of options and offers. “There is a strong need and demand for an individually tailored service package to be offered in a one-stop shop,” he said.
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com
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