Transportation infrastructure has a significant meaning for the economic
growth, the mobility of labor, the opportunities for tendering transport services
and the competitiveness of the economy as a whole. This new book presents
topical research in the study of transport policy, including the European Union
(EU) policy on the sustainability of transport and policy goals; public transit
service quality evaluation for a sustainable transportation system; urban
structure and transport; policy and market-based mechanisms towards a green
and sustainable transport and policies of railway interoperability.
Chapter 1 - The mobility is crucial for the prosperity of the national
economies and for the freedom of movement within the European Union (EU).
Along with the traffic growth during the recent years the pollution of the
environment and the number of accidents are growing too. Besides, the main
aim of the European transport policy is to ensure sustainable development of
all modes of transport and to raise their energy and ecological efficiency. With
regard to this it is necessary to distinguish between the positive and negative
effects of the growing mobility. The technical innovations and the orientation
towards less polluting and energy efficient modes of transport – especially
when talking about the urban transport and long distance haulage – will
contribute to a higher level of sustainability of European transport system.
