Big cities ask to double trips by public transport before 2030

The great world metropolises against climate change, gathered in the C40 group, demanded this Wednesday a greater state investment in public transport, up to 208,000 million dollars annually (179,600 million euros), which allows doubling the number of trips by 2030 .

The C40 network, together with the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF, in English), demanded a substantial increase in investment in the public transport system in the coming years to achieve the agreement in the Transport conference at COP26. from Paris.

This investment, as studied by both parties, would allow the reduction of 25% of global CO2 emissions to the atmosphere, and at the same time the creation of 4.6 million jobs, as well as connecting “areas that historically have not had the connection necessary with the center of the cities ”, explained to Efe the general secretary of the ITF, Stephen Cotton.

“Public transport is key for us to reduce carbon emissions in the city,” said the Councilor for Transportation of Rio de Janeiro, Marcelo Calero.

The purpose is “that all urban areas have a safe, frequent and accessible transportation system within a radius of 10 minutes walking from their homes,” within the group of more than a thousand cities that make up the C40, according to a joint statement.

The objective is that “public transport reaches far away places with higher quality,” said the Brazilian councilor, and that it also be accessible to “the most vulnerable people,” said the manager of the public transport system of the Colombian capital, Bogotá. , Felipe Ramírez.

The ITF union understands the system as a key social agent since, according to general secretary Stephen Cotton, without “access to public transport, how can you have access to a better salary? Everything is part of a great strategy ”. (I)