COMMISSION ON TRANSPORTATION SET UP PRIORITIES

The Commission on Transportation met in Göteborg June 25-26, for a two-day meeting to discuss the priorities for the commission.

In focus of the commission will be the role of city administrations in meeting the challenge of sustainable mobility within the cities. Priorities will be to learn why and how to improve the conditions of cyclists and pedestrians, how to develop the management of public transport systems and exchange of information on the potential for mobility management-tools to develop efficient, sustainable transport habits.

On the list of future activities are:

1. A conference on "Worst practices in managing public transport systems – mistakes we have made, for others to avoid".
2. A seminar on the benefits of increasing bicycling and the means to succeed.
3. A meeting to exchange experiences and ideas on mobility-management tools.
4. A scheme for exchange of personal in public transport management and operation between member cities.

Before the June meeting, Göteborg had distributed a letter and a questionnaire among member cities asking for proposals and priorities. A list – including the topics finally selected, but also topics like introducing vehicles with superior environmental performance, good ways of hosting a harbour, managing noise from urban transport systems and economic efficiency and road congestion – was circulated. There was some interest in many of these as well as a particular interest in road-pricing. During the meeting, we looked for topics where we could see a clear role for the UBC-network and where we saw a committed interest among members. However, this is not an exclusive decision. Goteborg would be happy to facilitate other initiatives within realms of the transport commission.

We welcome e-mails from people of member cities who are interested in taking part in any of the activities mentioned above, who have an interests in contributing to other activities within the commission or who just want to be posted information about transport issues.