"A developed country isn't a place where the poor have cars.
It's where the rich use public transportation." - Gustavo Petro

Sustainable travelling and sustainable mobility are crucial parts of our sustainable development, and they are particularly important to approach the UN Sustainable Development Goals number 9 of innovation and infrastructure combined with number 13, climate change action. Moving from private cars to public transport does not only increase efficiency, reduces traffic jams and air pollution, it is also an essential part of a sustainable lifestyle, and increase the sustainability of cities and communities (Goal number 11). However, still, many European cities and towns, particularly if people live not directly in the city centre due to high rent prices, are deprived of well-functioning, time-efficient and reliable public transport options. Delays, high ticket prices, very low frequencies and extremely slow routes make it very hard for people to live without their private car.

For these reasons, we demand:

1. Much more reliability, fewer cancellations or delays: the punctuality rate of all European public transport systems should be at least 95% or above.

2. Cheaper ticket prices, even if you don't use it very frequently, e.g. free public transport within city centres, cheap transportation within your surrounding areas (e.g. within 50km particularly for people in the countryside or near border areas who need to travel long distances to access schools, jobs, cultural offers, sports or healthcare facilities). Every hospital, school and university, shopping centre, swimming pool or major sports centre, etc. should be easily accessible by public transport.

3. Integrated transport management, taking into account the combination of various different means of transport, e.g. the right to get a bike ticket (including the reservation in the train, the possibility to transport bikes trailers and larger cargo bikes, too), provision of public bike systems beside every metro or regional train station, priority to cyclists, skaters, e-mobility, etc. on the streets, etc.

4. A better infrastructure of public transport systems, e.g. higher frequency in connections, more efficient connections of trains (among trains but also in combination with buses, etc.), technological updates and implementation of safety measures.

5. Nationalisation of all private-public transport companies if they can't reach these goals. Public transport systems must work in the best interest of the public, not for the profit of private companies in order to guarantee punctuality, efficiency, frequency, accessible prices for everyone and coverage of all areas, also countryside.

6. Much better customer service with professionals who can actually solve your problems instead of telling you that there is nothing they can do about it, and you may complain on a website or call an expensive number. Cleaner trains, and in particularly clean toilets, would also be highly appreciated, as well as free WiFi connections on all trains and free drinking water fountains on all train stations to reduce plastic waste.

7. The most innovative train projects are currently not developed in Europe, for this reason, I would suggest dedicating much more financial resources to research and innovation of a European wide network of extremely high-speed trains among major European cities, powered by renewable and clean energy sources and connecting the North to the South and East to the West in order to decrease air contamination caused by planes.

Feel free to add in the comments which areas or ways you feel are particularly deprived and need better and more frequent connections.