Thank you for providing a detailed overview of what sustainable transport is, showing many of the worldwide successes of sustainable transport, and making me aware of the many ways to travel with sustainable transport. As you said, bike sharing and electric vehicles are now the mainstream sustainable transport travelling methods around the world, and they bring a healthier, ecological and economical lifestyle to people while they can reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment very well. In the 21st century, which is full of opportunities and challenges, I think sustainable transport will gradually become the mainstream mode of transport and be accepted and used by people, because it concerns the future development and destiny of the whole world. I have been fortunate enough to experience the convenience of bike sharing, which is popular in the city where I live with its low rent and convenience. I like its ease of use by just unlocking and using the vehicle by scanning the QR code through my mobile phone, I can ride it to anywhere I want to go in the neighbourhood without the hassle of a long walk and I think it is the best way to get around within a 1-2.5KM radius. At the same time, I don’t need to spend money to buy another bike of my own as bikes don’t spend a high percentage of time in daily life and take up space in my home. However, along with this is the problem of management of shared bikes in the city, some people randomly destroy shared bikes and take them for themselves, which can cause a lot of property damage. In addition, due to the lack of policies and rules governing the management of shared bikes, bikes are parked randomly on roadsides, pavements and other public spaces after they have been used, which creates chaos in the city and reduces the amount of public space available for people to use. I have also noticed that some abandoned bikes are dumped in grey spaces in the city, which affects the cleanliness of the city, all because of the negative impacts of bikesharing. As an urban designer, do you have any good suggestions to solve this phenomenon?
Green Mobility, Bright Future
INTRODUCTION
In recent years, modern cities have faced major challenges related to transport and environmental sustainability. ‘Sustainable Mobility offers a promising way to address these issues, focusing not only on improving everyday mobility, but also on creating a greener, more sustainable future. With advances in technologies such as electric vehicles, shared mobility, autonomous driving and big data-driven intelligent traffic management, new opportunities have emerged to improve the efficiency and sustainability of urban transport systems.
Figure 1
What is sustainable transport?
Sustainable transport is a mode of transport that relies not only on limited natural resources, but also primarily on renewable energy sources and low-emission technologies, such as walking, cycling and electric vehicles. It aims to meet the basic needs of people travelling while reducing negative impacts on the environment.
An example of sustainable transport is bike share schemes. These schemes provide public bicycle rental services throughout the city, encouraging people to choose cycling over driving, which helps to reduce traffic congestion and pollution. Cities such as Copenhagen and Bogota are also actively promoting walking and cycling in urban areas by creating car-free zones and enhancing pedestrian infrastructure. These efforts aim to reduce car dependency and improve air quality, making urban spaces more accessible and environmentally friendly.
Figure 2-Paris Velib’ Bike Share
Figure 3-New York CityBike
At the same time, cities such as Copenhagen and Bogota are promoting walking and cycling within urban areas to reduce car dependency and improve air quality by building car-free zones and improving the pedestrian environment.
One photograph of cityscapes from the 1930s clearly illustrate how Danish cities became bicycle-friendly during the first half of the 20th century. People from all social classes cycled extensively, and bicycles were even adopted by various professions as a practical mode of transport.
Figure 4-Danish Cyclists’ Federation’s archive
Figure 5-Bicycle route in Denmark
In Denmark, people from all social classes have a long-standing tradition of cycling. Most Danes associate bicycles with positive values, such as freedom and health, which further helps to promote the concept of sustainable transportation.
Moreover, some Electric Car-Sharing Platforms offer electric car rentals, reducing the need for private car ownership and thus lowering the number of cars on the road and related pollution, such as Zipzar.
FEATURES OF SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT
- Reduced reliance on fossil fuels: lowers greenhouse gas emissions by using clean energy.
- Focus on public needs: sustainable transport should meet everyone’s needs, especially those of vulnerable groups such as women, children, and the elderly.
- Promote economic and regional development: supports balanced regional economic growth by encouraging the use of public transport and offering diverse transportation options.
SUCCESSFUL GLOBAL EXAMPLE OF SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT
A car transportation company from Singapore called SMART understands the importance of reducing its carbon footprint and has made conscious efforts to improve infrastructure, use renewable energy to power its operations, adopt operational efficiencies, and electrify its fleet.
A unique solution is the Intelligent Facilities Management (IFM), also known as the Green Station. This system uses artificial intelligence to adjust the settings of our station’s air conditioning systems, making them more efficient.
Figure 6- MRT station in Singapore
Since 2016, SMRT has gradually installed solar photovoltaic (PV) systems at Bishan, Tuas West, and Mandai Depots, as well as at TEL stations. They also partnered with the Land Transport Authority to add solar panels at other MRT stations in their network. Once the PV project is complete, SMRT’s total solar generation capacity will almost double, enough to power over 2,300 four-room HDB flats.
CONCLUSION
Sustainable transport is not just about changing the types of transportation we use; it also involves a broad consideration of the future development of our cities. Whether viewed from the perspectives of environmental protection or social equality, promoting sustainable transport is an initiative that brings many benefits.
REFERENCE
Thank you for providing a detailed overview of what sustainable transport is, showing many of the worldwide successes of sustainable transport, and making me aware of the many ways to travel with sustainable transport. As you said, bike sharing and electric vehicles are now the mainstream sustainable transport travelling methods around the world, and they bring a healthier, ecological and economical lifestyle to people while they can reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment very well. In the 21st century, which is full of opportunities and challenges, I think sustainable transport will gradually become the mainstream mode of transport and be accepted and used by people, because it concerns the future development and destiny of the whole world. I have been fortunate enough to experience the convenience of bike sharing, which is popular in the city where I live with its low rent and convenience. I like its ease of use by just unlocking and using the vehicle by scanning the QR code through my mobile phone, I can ride it to anywhere I want to go in the neighbourhood without the hassle of a long walk and I think it is the best way to get around within a 1-2.5KM radius. At the same time, I don’t need to spend money to buy another bike of my own as bikes don’t spend a high percentage of time in daily life and take up space in my home. However, along with this is the problem of management of shared bikes in the city, some people randomly destroy shared bikes and take them for themselves, which can cause a lot of property damage. In addition, due to the lack of policies and rules governing the management of shared bikes, bikes are parked randomly on roadsides, pavements and other public spaces after they have been used, which creates chaos in the city and reduces the amount of public space available for people to use. I have also noticed that some abandoned bikes are dumped in grey spaces in the city, which affects the cleanliness of the city, all because of the negative impacts of bikesharing. As an urban designer, do you have any good suggestions to solve this phenomenon?
Thank you for providing a detailed overview of what sustainable transport is, showing many of the worldwide successes of sustainable transport, and making me aware of the many ways to travel with sustainable transport. As you said, bike sharing and electric vehicles are now the mainstream sustainable transport travelling methods around the world, and they bring a healthier, ecological and economical lifestyle to people while they can reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment very well. In the 21st century, which is full of opportunities and challenges, I think sustainable transport will gradually become the mainstream mode of transport and be accepted and used by people, because it concerns the future development and destiny of the whole world.(Lee,2024) I have been fortunate enough to experience the convenience of bike sharing, which is popular in the city where I live with its low rent and convenience. I like its ease of use by just unlocking and using the vehicle by scanning the QR code through my mobile phone, I can ride it to anywhere I want to go in the neighbourhood without the hassle of a long walk and I think it is the best way to get around within a 1-2.5KM radius.(Zhang,2024) At the same time, I don’t need to spend money to buy another bike of my own as bikes don’t spend a high percentage of time in daily life and take up space in my home. However, along with this is the problem of management of shared bikes in the city, some people randomly destroy shared bikes and take them for themselves, which can cause a lot of property damage. In addition, due to the lack of policies and rules governing the management of shared bikes, bikes are parked randomly on roadsides, pavements and other public spaces after they have been used, which creates chaos in the city and reduces the amount of public space available for people to use. I have also noticed that some abandoned bikes are dumped in grey spaces in the city, which affects the cleanliness of the city, all because of the negative impacts of bikesharing. As an urban designer, do you have any good suggestions to solve this phenomenon?
Reference:
Lee, E. (2024). An Analysis of the Relationship between Intelligent Transport and Sustainable Urban Development. PEOPLE’S PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, 2024,(20)(1674-8050), pp.26–28. doi:https://doi.org/10.16857/j.cnki.cn11-5903/u.2024.20.012.
Zhang, Q. (2024). Sustainable Urban Road Design and Green Transport Development. Urban Plan,2024,(22)(2095-2104),pp.22–24. doi:https://doi.org/10.19569/j.cnki.cn119313/tu.202422008.