In order to achieve inclusive and sustainable mobility in cities and rural areas, it is important to consider citizen engagement in the process of transport planning. Particularly young people are often neglected, despite their vital importance and the importance for young people of public transport in accessing, amongst others, education, employment, and health services. The barriers and challenges that young people face in urban and rural areas concerning mobility need to be communicated and explicitly included in mobility and urban planning.

Overall, there is a lack of knowledge and information regarding the needs and issues that young people face in accessing mobility modes and public transport in urban and rural areas in Europe. The existing research tends to be limited to a case of one city or country. Moreover, there are no studies comparing these barriers between European cities. Understanding the barriers to affordable and accessible public transport between Europe’s cities is crucial because of the importance of access to affordable and reliable transport. Moreover, it is important to study the differences because it helps to understand how context influences the transport provision in cities and how to tailor a policy intervention to the specific context to improve it. Hence, more understanding and research is needed on the barriers that young people face in accessing urban and rural mobility options in different European cities and regions.

Aims:

• Analyse the mobility challenges of young people in urban and rural areas and propose recommendations for improvements.
• Raise awareness on the mobility challenges of young people in cities and rural areas
• Raise awareness among EU decision-makers and representatives of the 100 climate-neutral cities on the importance of inclusive sustainable urban mobility and public transport in European cities as well as the role of young people in transport planning

Policies addressed:

EU Urban Mobility Framework, EU Mission on 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities, Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy

Deliverables:

• Produce a report addressing the sustainable urban mobility challenges facing young people in cities and rural areas.
• Collaborate with relevant organisations active on inclusive sustainable mobility
• Create a webpage with centralised information on urban and rural mobility options for young people.
• Develop a series of social media posts on inclusive sustainable mobility for young people in urban and rural areas

In order to ensure that modal shifts to more sustainable modes of international mobility are a success, it is crucial that these modes of transport are financially accessible to all, not least young Europeans, who often have more limited financial resources. The EU has to some extent become aware of these issues, and is considering options such as removing VAT from cross-border rail tickets and expanding the financial support which Erasmus students can get when travelling sustainably. A general strategy on mobility pricing is still lacking, however, and it is crucial that young Europeans’ concerns are not overlooked now that the European Year of Youth is over. The Commission will be updating the Learning Mobility Framework later this year and is currently consulting stakeholders, meaning that this is an important moment for us to ensure that EU policy reflects the need for sustainable international mobility to become more accessible for all. At the same time, there are opportunities to improve the situation by working closely with our member organisations.

Aims:

• Advocate for measures which will increase the (financial) accessibility of sustainable modes of international transport.
• Work with our Member Organisations to provide information to young Europeans on the financial opportunities available to travel internationally in a sustainable manner.
• Continue to develop partnerships with sustainable international mobility operators together with our Member Organisations.

Policies addressed:

Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy and Action Plan, Action Plan to boost long-distance and cross-border passenger rail, Learning Mobility Framework

Deliverables:

• Use the policy brief about the influence of the lack of kerosene taxation and the presence of VAT on international rail to advocate for the removal of VAT on international railway tickets.
• Respond to the European Commission’s consultation on the future of learning mobility, in the light of the Commission’s intention to update the Learning Mobility Framework later this year.
• Develop a series of social media posts and other relevant materials about the existing options for young Europeans to travel by train affordably.
• Partner with the Greener Erasmus+ Travel project to provide information and workshops to young Europeans about travelling sustainably and the financial support available to do so.
• Strengthen the external representation of GCE’s work on this topic by speaking at events and conferences.
• Continue the attempt to develop partnerships with night train companies for discounts for members of MOs and the promotion of the use of night trains by young Europeans

Our aim is to achieve climate-neutral road transport and increase the share of public transportation by 2030 in all EU Member States

Our aim is to achieve climate-neutral road transport and increase the share of public transportation by 2030 in all EU Member States

We aim for increased use of rail as a transport mode, both for freight and passengers.

We aim to make the shipping and aviation sector less polluting.

We aim to urgently downscale unsustainable production and consumption and focus on post-growth, especially for EU economic recovery.