The value of public transport beyond mobility
For too long, we have viewed local public transport primarily as a service to be organised, funded and made more efficient. This is an understandable perspective, but it is insufficient. Its value, in fact, goes beyond its ability to carry millions of people from one place to another every day. It is measured by the opportunities it makes accessible, the quality of life it helps to improve, and the cohesion it fosters between people, communities and local areas.
Public transport is increasingly, even before being a technical infrastructure, a social infrastructure. It enables people to get to work or school, or to access public services. It bridges not only physical distances, but also economic and social ones, putting into practice a fundamental principle: where you live should not determine your access to opportunities.
Talking about mobility therefore means talking about the development model we want to build for the country. A comprehensive and reliable public transport system reduces traffic and emissions, improves quality of life, expands employment catchment areas, combats the isolation of suburbs and remote areas, and promotes participation in economic and social life.
That is why we must change the way we assess investment in public transport. We cannot measure it solely in terms of the ratio of costs to revenue from the service. We must consider their overall performance, taking into account the benefits to health, the environment and the quality of life in a region. What appears as a cost in the budget of a single sector may generate a benefit for the country as a whole.
This vision calls for a different approach to the allocation of public resources. It is not a question of pitting transport against healthcare, education or social policies, but of recognising their interdependence. More sustainable mobility contributes to prevention and improves access to services, training and work.
