People's Transport

What fantastic days we’ve spent in Stockholm!

It was my eleventh UITP Summit and by far the best. Not only in size, the biggest ever (2700+ attendees, 40,000 sqm of exhibition with 474 exhibitors, 300 speakers, 15,000 visitors), but also in the variety of activities offered to attendees, and in the general atmosphere that made people happy to be there, proud to belong to this global public transport community. I am also very happy that we’ve delivered our promise with a record number of women speakers: 126 representing 42% of all speakers which is more than two times the figure of the last edition.

The Summit slogan ‘The Art of Public Transport’ has been so inspiring. The event has confirmed that public transport stakeholders have the capacity to make the most out of its art. The Summit has definitely demonstrated their winning spirit and determination to lead that I would summarise into four main messages, the ‘4 Ps’:

• The first P is for Partnerships: Join forces for better mobility and improved service: The multiplicity and the diversity of mobility stakeholders require new forms of cooperation, an evolution of our governance models with (transport) authorities taking a new dimension, and partnerships with other sectors to jointly advocate the benefits of public transport.
• The second P is about Places: Reflect people’s expectations in transport places: The urban space should be primarily made for people and not only vehicles. With the multiplication of modes, interchange stations will take a renewed dimension. And vehicles see their design evolving to consider specific expectations of each traveller.
• The third P is for Performances: Advocate public transport benefits while improving its efficiency: Public transport is demonstrating its tremendous contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals on urban accessibility, its capacity to make cities better place to live in, and business more prosper. Its efficiency and technical performances are improved thanks to digitalisation and electrification.
• The fourth P is for People: Involve people and put them at the heart of public transport: Politicians must hear the new expectations of their citizens, while public transport stakeholders should redefine the services to answer the evolving customers’ requirements. Of course, this is only possible with visionary and caring management and, committed and happy staff, with the need to involve more women in the sector.

It’s an exciting and positive time for public transport. The creativity and forward-looking vision of our stakeholders are putting the sector in a leadership position.

Public transport is imposing itself as the preferred choice in political decisions, and its focus on people embraced and implemented. Public transport is not just about operating metros or buses, it’s about making people happy, it’s about making an impact on people’s life. It’s People’s Transport!

Thank you to all speakers, exhibitors, sponsors, press, partners, suppliers, visitors, attendees, Stockholm & UITP Teams for this unforgettable Summit.

It’s with Passion and Pride (two more Ps!) that we’ll keep taking ‘The Art of Public Transport’ to the next level.

See you in Melbourne in 2021!