The new leaflet on the Green Paper Towards a new culture for urban mobility is now available!
Cities are at the heart of European life and are the engine of the European economy. The vast majority of European citizens’ lives in urban areas, and around 85% of the European Union’s (EU’s) Gross National Product is generated there. Sustainable urban mobility - allowing people and goods to move freely and safely while respecting the environment - is crucial both for our quality of life and for the health of the economy.
Yet towns and cities across Europe are facing a range of serious challenges such as traffic congestion, greenhouse gas emissions, air and noise pollution, health issues, safety risks and security threats. These are common challenges and their effects can often be felt across national boundaries. They have to be tackled at European level if we are to achieve a sustainable urban mobility for all European citizens. In most cases, local authorities are best equipped to take action, but the EU can enable and encourage common solutions for the development of a new culture for urban mobility in Europe.Launching a debateIt is in this context that the European Commission published on 25 September 2007 a Green Paper called Towards a new culture for urban mobility. This followed a six-month long consultation with stakeholders. Based on their input, the Green Paper poses questions and launches a wide-ranging public debate with a view to developing a European policy vision on urban mobility. The Green Paper identifies a number of core elements of sustainable urban mobility, namely the need to make towns and cities and their transport systems more fluid, greener, 'smarter', more accessible, and safer.Have your sayThe European Commission is now inviting all interested parties to take part in a new consultation on urban mobility that will be open until 15 March 2008. A concrete Action Plan will then be drawn up and published by early autumn 2008. The Action Plan will include possible actions at the EU, national, regional, and local levels and at the level of the industry and citizens. Together we must find ways to improve urban mobility: a sustainable mobility that benefits all Europeans. Make sure that you have your say.Please download here the new leaflet on the Green PaperTowards a new culture for urban mobility.
