On July 24, in its first meeting of the new parliamentary term, the Transport Committee of the European Parliament discussed the topic of Modal shift in European transport.

The 2018 study “Modal Shift in European transport: a way forward”, commissioned by the Policy Department for Structural and Cohesion Policies, was presented on the occasion. The study aims to “undertake an up-to-date and thorough analysis of the progress, potential and further challenges for the EU in transferring part of road transport to more sustainable modes, as set out in the 2011 White Paper on transport”.

ECF took a closer look at this study to assess the importance it gives to active mobility when discussing modal shift in EU transport policy. Our conclusion: cycling and active mobility are not sufficiently considered as a serious solution for the modal shift the study encourages, as these transport modes often fall into the “other” category of transport. Thus, the study fails to translate its ambitions of reducing GHG emissions by not adequately addressing the most sustainable modes of transport, i.e. cycling and active mobility.

While the study is intended to draw up recommendations on the decarbonization of transport, it still targets motorised transport almost exclusively. This is even more problematic for short distance travel, both passenger and freight, where a modal shift benefiting cycling and active mobility should be prioritized. In this sense, some findings contemplated in the study should have been explored further:

• The study finds that the infrastructure needed to favour active mobility in urban areas is impeded by decades of pro-car planning. While it underlines that “a significant shift to less carbon intensive transport modes is still far from being fully achieved”, it mainly focuses on infrastructure for motorized transport. Despite mention of the steady modal share of the car in the last two decades, the study proposes few concrete recommendations to take advantage of the potential offered by active modes of transport, especially in cities.
• The study acknowledges that the socio-demographic trends specific to European urban centres could favor a quick modal shift from motorized transport to active mobility and cycling, as “the potential is higher where transport demand is concentrated”. However, it doesn’t say much on how to implement this shift, whether it be through building cycling infrastructure, reinforcing safety for cyclists or promoting active modes of transport. In the meantime, urban areas account for about 75% of the European population, as well as 60% to 80% of the global share of energy consumption and CO² emissions. That is why active mobility, which represent more efficient modes of transport in terms of sustainability, should be identified as an essential solution in decreasing GHG emissions as well as in reducing traffic congestion.
• The study recognizes the essential role played by the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) in the context of the 2011 Transport White Paper, in implementing a modal shift in favor of sustainable mobility. However, the study remains evasive about the share of active mobility, particularly cycling, amongst all the “sustainable” modes of transport (which also include public transport). Furthermore, references to “active forms of mobility” throughout the report are not accompanied by detailed information on the way they should be promoted and implemented, as SUMPs are the competence of local and regional authorities.

This omission is due to the fact that the 2011 Transport White Paper, while stipulating that combustion-fueled cars should be phased out from cities by 2050, did not put forward a clear modal shift objective with regards to passenger transport. The publication of a new Transport White Paper should rectify this omission.

In order to address climate disruption and meet both the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the EU 2050 GHG emissions objectives, actives modes of transport emerge as an undeniable part of the modal shift needed in European transport. Especially in cities and metropolises, active mobility must be given a much more serious role. Some EU countries are already paving the way, as we have previously observed in the Dutch 2019 Climate Agreement.

Link to the study:

“Modal shift in European Transport: a way forward”, November 2018: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2018/629182/IPOL_STU(2018)629182_EN.pdf