Borna Abramović is a Professor and Head of Chair for Railway Transport Management at the Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences at the University of Zagreb. Borna’s areas of interest are: railway transport, integrated passenger transport systems, transport forecasts, transport demand and game theory. He is an active researcher in many European and Croatian scientific projects and a large number of professional studies in Croatia.

Session on Modal shift 

• “MOBILITY SHIFT FROM PRIVATE CAR TO PUBLIC TRANSPORT – REAL PATH TO DECARBONISATION OF TRANSPORT” by Borna Abramović

Abstract

Comfort, practicality, speed, individual freedom, flexibility, and social status are well-known attractive factors of private cars. But today we are facing a huge burden of negative side effects of using private cars. Road transport accounts for about a fifth of EU emissions. Private cars are a major polluter, accounting for 61% of total CO₂ emissions from EU road transport which covers an incredible 71.7% of total emissions from EU transport. Thus, there is a time for concrete measures to build a better future.

One very concrete measure is the mobility shift from private cars to public transport. Sounds easy but is a huge challenge for all stakeholders in the passenger transport sector. Habits are very difficult to change, and huge efforts need to be implemented emphasizing the private car user for mobility shift patterns. The latest research explains to us that the average distance in cities is around 5 km! So, using a private car is a very expensive sport that users do not take into account or are not at all aware of the total costs of using their “tin pets”.

The mobility shift needs to start with a change of paradigm on how to travel sustainably. The most important facts for users are the costs and after that care for the environment. Policymakers need to organize efficient public transport that covers users’ needs. Global benefits of public transport are: (1) costs less than servicing private cars, (2) may save lots of time, (3) reduces travelling stress, (4) improves all people’s mobility, (5) cuts down traffic jams, and (6) reduces CO₂ emission.

Let’s build a better future with sustainable mobility for all citizens!