The upcoming Urban Mobility Package, an EU scheme to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of urban transport, intends to cover three key initiatives of the Single European Transport area: Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans; an EU framework for urban road user charging; and a strategy for near- ‘zero-emission urban logistics’ 2030. In order to ensure that public health benefits are taken into account, EPHA attended the stakeholder meeting organised by the Commission (Directorate General for Mobility and Transport) on 21st May and stressed the importance that urban mobility policies foster physical activity, ensure social participation and tackle health inequalities.
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(Photo © Leonard John Matthews)
Background
The 2011 White Paper “Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area – Towards a competitive and resource efficient transport system” included the urban dimension as an important element, since improving urban mobility is vital for achieving the overall objectives of the European transport policy. In order to strengthen the EU economy’s competitiveness, the EU transport policy aims to:
- reduce oil dependency
- reduce 60% of all greenhouse emissions by 2050 (transport is responsible for 10%)
- avoid congestion (vesting of time money, fuel, etc).
Building on the results of the 2009 action Plan on Urban Mobility, the White Paper strengthened the urban dimension of the Commission’s transport policy by including two specific urban mobility initiatives to support the achievement of a modernised, competitive and resource-efficient transport system:
- Halve the use of ‘conventionally-fueled’ cars in urban transport by 2030; phase them out in cities by 2050;
- Achieve essentially CO2-free city logistics in major urban centres by 2030.
Annex I of the White paper contains a list of 40 initiatives. The upcoming Urban Mobility Package in 2013 will tackle 3 initiatives from them related to urban logistics:
31. Promoting the use of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans
32. An EU framework for urban road user charging and access restriction schemes
33. A strategy for near “zero-emission city logistics” by 2030
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Draft Timetable
– in the upcoming months – exchange with experts, stakeholders, Member States,
– first half of 2013 – preparation of European Commission Impact assessment
– first half of 2013 – Preparation of proposal texts (Communicaltion? Guidline? Strategy? Conditiionality? Legal text?)
– second half of 2013 – publication of the proposal
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– EPHA’s contribution to the stakeholder meeting
Based on EPHA’s responses to the public consultation sent on 17 December 2012 (see the relevant 2012 December PCM background document), the following messages were highlighted on the spot:
– Given that urban mobility is one of the key social determinants of health, the public health dimension and the health benefits should be emphasized in the policy framework of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMP)
– Physical activity – The average level of physical activity is not sufficient. Physical inactivity – along with other risk factors such as alcohol or tobacco – leads to obesity and non-communicable diseases. Urban mobility policies and Sustainable Mobility Plans (SUMP) have the potential to encourage physical activity (e.g. by expanding walking areas or cycling systems) with the health and environmental benefits that go with that.
– Social Participation – Urban mobility is key to provide opportunities for social participation, as accessible features can allow citizens, especially older people or persons with disabilities, to be more mobile and thus participate in social life, which might have a beneficial impact on their mental health.
– Reducing health inequalities – Urban mobility could play a key role in reducing existing inequalities between urban areas with various degrees of accessibility increasing the social cohesion, inclusion and urban economy of vulnerable groups.
–Study to support an impact assessment of the Urban Mobility Package
With a view to present an Urban Mobility Package, the Commission has launched a study to identify and assess different options carried out by private companies (COWI and ECORYS).
Main outcomes of the study
The study is based on more than 200 response to the public consultation (including EPHA’s).
1.) Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans
– As regards Sustainable Mobility Plans (SUMP), 87% of the respondents found that there is a lack of coordination between authorities and other actors in the use of various policy instruments- 91% of respondents considered the SUMP as an effective tool and 86% would welcome EU support.
– As what regards to topics to be addressed by SUMPs, walking and cycling and public transport were at the top (in line with EPHA’s proposals).
2.) Restriction and urban pricing schemes
– 61% were in favour of Low Emission Zones (LEZ) and 71% said that the EU should support such initiatives/
3.) EU funding of transport projects
– 67% were in favour of linking EU funding and SUMPs
– 60% accepted financial support for development of SUMPs
– Initiatives such as CIVITAS and SCCI (Smart cities and Communities initiative) could engage cities more effectively
The Sustainable Urban Development Plans (SUMPs) proposes three alternative policy options
1. A mandatory SUMP framework based on the minimum requirement on content and scope,
2. (Recommendation) Adding voluntary benchmark elements
3. (Recommendation) Adding a requirement to meet SUMPs’ conditionality for receiving EU funds for urban transport projects
– Relevant WHO Publication: [Social determinants of health
Sectoral briefing Series: 3 transport (road transport): Shared
interests in Sustainable outcomes->http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2011/9789241502580_eng.pdf]
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EPHA related articles
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- [->art5451]
- [->art5253]
- [->art2940]
