IRU in partnership with POLIS, the network of European cities, is launching a pledge to promote and increase the use of coaches, as the most inclusive and sustainable urban transport option.
Many European cities have introduced Urban Vehicle Access Regulations (UVARs), with a view to improving air quality and reducing congestion. However, UVARs often limit coach access to city centres, preventing them from playing their key role in collective and green mobility networks.
With this pledge, IRU and POLIS aim to encourage dialogue on UVARs between cities and coach operators to improve collective mobility for school, employee, socio-cultural, intercity and tourist transport.
Coaches must be included in urban mobility plans, and the sector must be consulted. At the European level, EU institutions need to ensure that vehicle documents are recognised in all Member States, so that entry permits can be harmonised.
“Collaboration between cities and coach operators is essential for the green mobility of tomorrow. While this pledge is an important step towards recognising the importance of coach services, much remains to be done. We need to stop banning or restricting coach access to urban areas in order to keep the social and economic life of our cities flourishing,” said Raluca Marian, IRU’s General Delegate to the European Union.
All interested stakeholders are invited to contact IRU to sign the pledge.