Building a shared vision for the future of urban transportation
Today, the International Transport Forum released an exciting new report entitled Shaping the Relationship Between Public Transport and New Mobility.
At its core, the ITF report urges a renewed focus on ensuring positive outcomes in urban transportation, rather than focusing on which party provides the service. The public interest in transportation is to provide a service that is cost effective, environmentally friendly, and equitable, particularly for those who don’t have access to a private car. As the report points out, there are many examples where these goals may be easier to achieve by partnering with new mobility providers. As only one of many examples highlighted in the report, traditional transit tends to be underutilized in low-density areas, and partnering with services like Uber may help deliver more cost effective service. We’re proud that Uber has been a pioneer in working with cities around the world to pilot service in exactly these environments, with real world examples ranging from improving paratransit service in Boston to the introduction of the first transit service in the small city of Innisfil, Ontario.
To help capitalize on these new opportunities, the report calls on cities to set visions for urban transport that include the full integration of new mobility options, something San Francisco has already done by establishing a goal of ensuring the majority of trips in the city happen through a combination of public transport, shared mobility like Uber, walking, and cycling. As the American Public Transport Association has pointed out, a move to one shared mode tends to result in greater use of all shared modes, as well as a reduction in private car ownership.
But the ITF also advocates for further integration of shared mobility beyond just public transportation. Cities also have enormous infrastructure assets that can be leveraged to incentivize sharing. The report encourages public authorities to leverage existing road infrastructure by designating curb space for pick-up and and drop-off zones. As we push for a world with less parking overall, using curb space to encourage more efficient modes is a great step in the right direction.
As the report rightly points out, ride services are no replacement for high capacity, high frequency transit where it already works best. We agree — and have repeatedly called for increased public funding for core public transportation infrastructure. Indeed, we’re excited precisely because we share a vision with the broader transportation community. It’s one in which every journey is shared using a combination of public transit, Uber, and other shared mobility services.
We are excited to see that organizations like the ITF are similarly optimistic about the opportunities that lay ahead when public transport and ride services like Uber work together to improve transportation for all.
