E-MAIL
Published at 23.09.2009 in , Alternatives, International developments, Social aspects
At Kortrijk, and the International Road Transport Union (IRU) will launch a joint long-term initiative to promote and improve the image and use of collective passenger transport by bus and coach worldwide.
The Smart Move campaign aims to muster the largest possible involvement, endorsement and support of the organised bus and coach industry in Europe and worldwide, as well as manufacturers, suppliers and all professionals and individuals who share the vision and objectives of the campaign.
Among industry professionals, buses and coaches are identified as one of the most safe, environmentally friendly, flexible, efficient, affordable and inclusive means of transport. Used effectively, they are ideal for solving a range of current mobility problems including climate change, safety, connectivity, social inclusion and congestion.
However, this reality is not perceived by most of the public, politicians and mass media. On the contrary, buses and coaches are often associated with problems commonly attributed to road transport, such as pollution and congestion.
This misperception leads to a situation where buses and coaches are not only under-performing in terms of use by customers and contribution to mobility and welfare, but they are also the victim of political negligence and often improper, non-adapted and even restrictive legislation.
The overall objective of the Smart Move campaign is to pool industry efforts and resources, to raise the media and politicians’ awareness and place buses and coaches and the services they offer at the centre of political attention in order to ensure informed legislation and optimal regulatory framework.
Buses and coaches should be recognised as vital tools to help meet the current and future mobility and travel demands, through their intrinsic qualities of safety, environmental-friendliness, affordability, user-friendliness and efficiency.