by Xinhua writer Liu Gang

    VIENNA, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The development of "smart" and "green" urban public transport and the promotion of its market share were the underlying messages from the 58th World Congress and Mobility & City Transport Exhibition held in Vienna from June 7-11 by the International Association of Public Transport (UITP).

    In order to alleviate the ever-increasing traffic pressure in almost all major world cities, roads have been expanded continuously, resulting in the great consumption of limited natural resources and air pollution.

    In addition, the end of the oil era is also a reality people will have to face.

    In response to these challenges, the development of a "smart" and "green" urban public transport system provides a solution, so that a comfortable, environmentally friendly and energy-efficient public transport system can become the main mobility choice of city residents.

    Alain Flausch, president of the UITP, said at the congress that urban transport should rely mainly on "soft mobility modes" -- walking, cycling or public transport for short-distance journeys in cities.

    He said "soft mobility modes," especially public transport, should always be given first priority in urban planning and reconstruction, followed by logistic traffic and private transport.

    Flausch said the development of urban public transport would ease the pressure on urban traffic and assist in resolving issues such as global warming, which is why the UITP calls on all countries to double the market share of public transport by 2025.

    Urban public transport is related to all aspects of daily life. In order to innovate existing services and make them more attractive to the public, relevant departments should develop integrated urban transport policies, secure stable funding and investment schemes, and adopt transport demand management measures.

    One of the keys in developing urban public transport is to make people turn to "soft mobility modes" from private transport.

    According to the UITP, a fifth of car owners in the world drive within a one-way trip distance of less than 2 kilometers, and they should convert to being urban public transport users.

    Besides, with the application of new technologies and new materials, urban public transport has become one of the safest modes of transport in modern society, as the mortality rate of urban public transport is only one-third of that of private cars (45 people to 125 people for every 1 million kilometer), according to International Road Transport Union and UITP statistics.

    Continuous innovation is an important way to develop public transport, while the improvement of its market share requires a considerable amount of investment. The nature of urban public transport is offering a service to citizens. Governments, therefore, have the inescapable responsibility for developing it.

    "Without the government's participation and support, there is no future for public transport," Flausch said.

    With the extensive application of information and digital technology, and new materials, as well as integrated system planning in urban construction and transformation, urban public transport can be greatly improved in safety, comfort and convenience.

    Smart, advanced and personalized services will be the new image of public transport in the future, making a growing number of urban dwellers believe that public transport is the appropriate mobility choice.