Singaporeans are now becoming aware of the effects of global warming. It is taught in school and measures are being executed to lessen the risk. Global warming is already here. Though the effects are irreparable, we can still do something to lessen its damage or risks. There are many ways we can consider to lessen the damage or risks of global warming. We just need to be serious about it and spread the word.
Here in Singapore, there are many scientists that join the race for sustainable development. In this case, let us discuss about sustainable transport otherwise known as sustainable mobility. We know that transport systems are the major producers of greenhouse gases. It is therefore crucial that we understand sustainable mobility.
Sustainable mobility refers to transportation in the senses of climate and environmental impacts. In sustainable mobility, it includes vehicles that are used for air, water and road transport in relation to their sources of energy. Furthermore, sustainable mobility is affordable and operates efficiently at the same time limits the waste and emissions.
To help us better understand sustainable mobility, the European Directorate-General for Transport and Energy propelled a programme that focuses on urban transport. There are different measures to include:
- Clean fuels and vehicles: Clean fuels and vehicles include hybrid vehicles, biogas, electric vehicles, LPG, hydrogen vehicle, anima-powered transport and human-powered transport.
- Sustainable transport infrastructure: Sustainable transport infrastructure refers to bikeways, railways, busways and greenways.
- Access restrictions: Access restrictions include multifunctional areas, parking management, pedestrian zone, speed reduction and car restricted zones.
- Integrated pricing strategies: Integrated pricing strategies refer to parking management, congestion pricing and integrated ticketing.
- Collective passenger transport: Collective passenger transport include intermodal transfers, park and ride, accessible transport systems, bus rapid transit, demand responsive transport, integrated ticketing and the likes.
- Travel information: Travel information refers to journey planner and public transport timetable.
- Less car intensive lifestyle: Less car intensive lifestyle includes bike sharing, carpooling, car sharing and cycling.
- Soft measures: Soft measures refer to travel plan, travel blending and walking school bus.
- Transport management: Transport management includes transit oriented development, transportation demand management and the like.
- Sustainable freight transport: Sustainable freight transport refers to dry port, fleet, route planning, intermodal freight transport system and the like.
This is everything we need to know about sustainable mobility. This is a concept that we can easily comprehend but very difficult to execute. Sustainable development is not only the job of scientists, everyone should join the cause.