Rapid transit


case of where successive administrations ignored public transport for years and is only now investing in new infrastructure when the streets are already clogged with cars.


“They should have done this 25 years ago because the investment takes some time and it takes a while to get it right,” Flausch says. “Unfortunately public transport is not very popular with politicians because it costs money and forces them to be brave. It forces them to think about what kind of city people want, and potentially change habits and behaviour, which could be dangerous politically. But this is what they are paid to do. They shouldn’t wait for reelection, but unfortunately too many do.” Flausch says that congestion is clearly the major ally in public transport’s fight to gain modal share “because everyone gets irritated by it,” yet with powerful opposing lobbies battling for every piece of the pie during a period of austerity, public transport faces a difficult fight to get what it needs. “You can of course increase taxes but this is not very popular,” Flausch says. “It’s about where you put your money. In a city today there are plenty of priorities for politicians who are very concerned about how they create jobs, provide access to health care etc but at the same time, citizens are suffering from congestion which can stifle these aims.


They say we have to cut this, this and this. But it’s not a question that there is no money, it is just a question of where you put the money that you have.” Flausch is a believer in building the


broadest possible lobby of support for public transport that is “not just talking to the politicians, but to the population as well.” As a result the UITP is now pushing its campaign to grow public transport into the most high-profile debates and through alliances with some of the world’s most influential organisations.


“It’s not a question that there is no money, it is just a question of where you put the money that you have.”


For instance while last year’s Rio+20


conference fell short of expectations, Flausch says it helped to reaffirm the UITP and other public transport agencies’ efforts to frame public transport as a solution in the sustainability debate by recognising for the first time its importance to reducing greenhouse emissions from transport, which accounts for around 20% of the world’s total. This has since been furthered by the World Bank’s commitment to support sustainable


transport projects, while the G20 is also for the first time mentioning public transport as a solution to congestion. The UITP is similarly working closely with the UN Habitat on settlement and development of cities, with its secretary general, former mayor of Barcelona Mr Joan Clos, who will be in Geneva, often speaking about the benefits of public transport. In addition, Flausch says that the UITP is going to sign a memorandum of understanding with the International Transport Workers’ Federation in the next few months to jointly lobby in favour of public transport.


“It shows we can work with the trade unions, the business community and big organisations like the United Nations,” Flausch says. “You have to make this big platform so that, like the car did, it is finally part of the normal everyday conversation on radio and television, that public transport is the solution to these problems.” Talking up and building support for the needs of public transport companies is all very well, but the world, particularly the world of finance, has changed in the past five years or so. While there are plenty of financiers out there willing to support public transport projects, epitomised by the Asian Development Bank, unfortunately for Flausch, too many “public transport companies are still


Flausch says Tehran is now suffering from severe congestion after ignoring public transport for many years. Photo: Colin Macdonald 24


IRJ May 2013


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