Sustainable mobility is usually based on the use of zero-emission vehicles.
Sustainable mobility is a concept referring to the type of movement that allows the satisfaction of travel needs without harming the environment . The notion can be applied to both public and private transport.
It should be noted that, according to the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ), the idea of mobility refers to what is movable: that has the ability to move on its own or can achieve movement thanks to another's impulse. Sustainable , meanwhile, is what can be conserved for an extended period without depleting resources or causing ecological damage.
What is sustainable mobility
Sustainable mobility encompasses various procedures, infrastructures, devices and techniques that make it possible to transport people and objects with zero or reduced environmental impact and minimizing the social problems derived from movement . This is an issue that is usually considered in government policies.
When sustainable mobility is promoted, we seek to establish a transportation model that does not harm public health (taking care of air quality , for example); contribute to road safety; contribution to social integration and the development of local commerce; and improve the quality of life of citizens in general.
Urban planning
Urban planning is key to promoting sustainable mobility. The authorities must establish the necessary conditions so that measures can be applied to achieve this type of displacement .
Public transportation , in this framework, must be efficient so that more and more people choose it and obtain a satisfactory experience. The State has to develop integrated transportation networks that help reach all parts of the territory.
Since walking is an activity that does not pollute or cost money, thinking about pedestrian-centered urban design is very important. Pedestrians must have priority on public roads and their protection must be guaranteed.
Likewise, the use of bicycles can be encouraged as part of a sustainable mobility plan. Bike lanes are necessary for cyclists to travel safely.
Applying taxes on gasoline or naphtha and emissions regulations to reduce the carbon footprint is also relevant, as is the implementation of a road design that contributes to a reduction in congestion (and, consequently, gas emissions). greenhouse effect from vehicles that use fossil fuels).
Other actions that contribute, indirectly, to sustainable mobility cannot be left aside. If teleworking is promoted, to mention one possibility, trips to the office are reduced, limiting the number of cars on the streets.
Innovation in transportation is very important to achieve sustainable mobility.
Sustainable mobility and electrification
Electrification is one of the most chosen ways to advance towards sustainable mobility. This is because the use of electric vehicles reduces polluting emissions.
In public transport, therefore, it is advisable to prioritize the use of electric trains and electric buses . Smart cities, on the other hand, require sustainable transportation infrastructure with electric vehicle charging stations for men and women who commute in hybrid cars , electric bicycles , or electric skateboards , for example.
Another alternative is to promote alternative fuels such as biofuel , although experts warn about some disadvantages of these products (among them, the loss of crops that were used for food).
Carpooling and carsharing
Carpooling is based on car sharing. In this way, several individuals who have to go to the same place use a single vehicle, unlike what happens when each person drives their own car.
Carpooling reduces polluting emissions and vehicle congestion. Many companies promote this practice among their employees since it also helps strengthen social relationships.
Car sharing is another option. In this case, cars are rented for a short period of time, generally to cover short distance trips.
Sustainable mobility requires the protection of pedestrian rights so that walking is an option to consider when getting around.
Sustainable mobility with shared bicycles
As we already indicated, the bicycle is a vehicle that helps sustainable mobility: in addition to not polluting, it is good for your health. Government leaders, therefore, have to build bicycle infrastructure (cycle lanes, parking areas) to encourage their use.
In this context, bicycle sharing systems emerge, whose management is usually public. The State makes bicycles available to citizens at different points, which can be used free of charge. The user picks up the bicycle from one station and can leave it at another, thus only having possession of the vehicle during the journey.
Bike sharing emerged in the 1960s in Amsterdam ( Netherlands ). Today they can be found in the main cities of the world. Generally, the stations operate automatically: the person identifies themselves with a code or card and thus manages to release a bicycle, which they can use for a certain amount of time and then they are obliged to return it to some point on the network. .