Buses World News: TRANSPORT POLICIES * Europe - * EU plan to phase out 'conventionally fueled' cars by 2050. The Commission says Europe's transport system remains unsustainable.

Brussels,Belgium -Gizmag, by Tannith Cattermole -April 11, 2011: -- The European Commission has released a white paper detailing ambitious plans to transform Europe's transport infrastructure by 2050... The overall goal is to create a unified transport system capable of meeting the needs of the 500 million EU citizens... Without change, oil dependence of transport will remain around 90%, CO2 emissions from transport will remain one third higher than their 1990 level and congestion costs will increase by about 50% by 2050... The major goals set out in the "Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area" are:

• The gradual phasing out of conventionally-fueled cars in cities with a view to significantly reduce oil dependence, greenhouse gas emissions and local air and noise pollution

• Use of smaller, lighter and more specialized road passenger vehicles with focus on fleets of city buses, taxis and delivery vans that can be adapted for new alternative propulsion and fuels.

• A 50% shift of medium distance intercity passenger and freight journeys from road to rail and waterborne transport

• An overall 60% cut in transport emissions by 2050

• Switching to cleaner public transport in cities, as well as the option of walking and cycling

• A higher share of travel by public transport with minimum service obligations. Public transport quality and connections must be improved if consumer behavior is to change: currently 71% of car users feel that public transport is less convenient than the car while 72% say they don't use public transport because of a lack of connections, 54% mention lack of reliability

• Multi-modal travel planning and integrated ticketing across Europe

The European Twowheel Retailers' Association welcomed the plans but were felt that the part two-wheelers could play in helping cut emissions had been underplayed... (Photo: A lorries protest in UK)

Labels: transport policies