55
have also been developed in some cities. These include bus rapid transit (BRT) and
light rail transit (LRT), together with metro and heavy rail systems. Relatively new
but an environmentally friendly mode of transportation in certain cities is the funicular railway. To connect more distant areas, for example, the city centre, to outer
suburbs or commuter towns, suburban railways represent a good example of sustainable and environmentally friendly way of transportation. High-speed rail should
also be emphasised as an efficient way of public transportation.
Of course, walking and cycling are sustainable ways of transportation due to
their favourable impacts on health, financials, and environment. However, in order
to make this more attractive, big improvements in the walking and cycling environment and public spaces need be made, since many streets and roads are not suitable
due to a lack of cycle paths and on-street parking, etc. (Cahill 2010).
When sustainable transportation is discussed, it should be emphasised that it is a
societal process rather than a strictly technical one. Sustainable transportation
depends upon spatial and transport planning and policy, economics, and citizen
involvement. One of the main aims of sustainable transportation is lowering financial costs to all social groups. This could be achieved through decreasing dependence on automobiles as the primary mode of individual mobility (Schiller et al.
2010), with walking, cycling, and public transport as alternatives. Transportation
development should also aim to increase safety and security. It should be emphasised that transportation should promote an equity aspect for all social groups and
citizens so that a fair society could be achieved, with a better quality of life and
healthier environment.
With regard to the Environmental Citizenship discussion, it is possible to emphasise various measures in transportation to achieve a cleaner environment, but also to
achieve more economic and socially equitable citizenship. Some soft measures (i.e.
smarter choices) could be proposed (Cahill 2010; Cairns et al. 2004): travel plans
(i.e. work or school), personalised travel planning, public transport information and
marketing, travel awareness campaigns, car clubs, car sharing, teleworking, teleconferencing, and home shopping.
To achieve Environmental Citizenship and become a responsible proEnvironmental Citizen, it is important to approach to the transportation in an appropriate way. It means accepting transportation as one of the most prominent factors
in everyday lives. On the other hand, it is also important to rely on more environmentally friendly and sustainable modes of transportation. For example, walking,
cycling, and public transportation are pro-environmentally oriented transportation
modes and could be acceptable to an Environmental Citizen. On the other hand, it is
also necessary to educate people in the most suitable way on the advantages and
disadvantages of transportation modes in a sense of environment protection. Only
synergy between the willingness in becoming an Environment Citizen and the
Education on Environmental Citizenship can result in achieving Environmental
Citizenship. Transportation could adopt environment, and environment could adopt
transportation, but the key factor is a human with his awareness on the necessity of
environment protection.
4 Societal Issues and Environmental Citizenship
have also been developed in some cities. These include bus rapid transit (BRT) and
light rail transit (LRT), together with metro and heavy rail systems. Relatively new
but an environmentally friendly mode of transportation in certain cities is the funicular railway. To connect more distant areas, for example, the city centre, to outer
suburbs or commuter towns, suburban railways represent a good example of sustainable and environmentally friendly way of transportation. High-speed rail should
also be emphasised as an efficient way of public transportation.
Of course, walking and cycling are sustainable ways of transportation due to
their favourable impacts on health, financials, and environment. However, in order
to make this more attractive, big improvements in the walking and cycling environment and public spaces need be made, since many streets and roads are not suitable
due to a lack of cycle paths and on-street parking, etc. (Cahill 2010).
When sustainable transportation is discussed, it should be emphasised that it is a
societal process rather than a strictly technical one. Sustainable transportation
depends upon spatial and transport planning and policy, economics, and citizen
involvement. One of the main aims of sustainable transportation is lowering financial costs to all social groups. This could be achieved through decreasing dependence on automobiles as the primary mode of individual mobility (Schiller et al.
2010), with walking, cycling, and public transport as alternatives. Transportation
development should also aim to increase safety and security. It should be emphasised that transportation should promote an equity aspect for all social groups and
citizens so that a fair society could be achieved, with a better quality of life and
healthier environment.
With regard to the Environmental Citizenship discussion, it is possible to emphasise various measures in transportation to achieve a cleaner environment, but also to
achieve more economic and socially equitable citizenship. Some soft measures (i.e.
smarter choices) could be proposed (Cahill 2010; Cairns et al. 2004): travel plans
(i.e. work or school), personalised travel planning, public transport information and
marketing, travel awareness campaigns, car clubs, car sharing, teleworking, teleconferencing, and home shopping.
To achieve Environmental Citizenship and become a responsible proEnvironmental Citizen, it is important to approach to the transportation in an appropriate way. It means accepting transportation as one of the most prominent factors
in everyday lives. On the other hand, it is also important to rely on more environmentally friendly and sustainable modes of transportation. For example, walking,
cycling, and public transportation are pro-environmentally oriented transportation
modes and could be acceptable to an Environmental Citizen. On the other hand, it is
also necessary to educate people in the most suitable way on the advantages and
disadvantages of transportation modes in a sense of environment protection. Only
synergy between the willingness in becoming an Environment Citizen and the
Education on Environmental Citizenship can result in achieving Environmental
Citizenship. Transportation could adopt environment, and environment could adopt
transportation, but the key factor is a human with his awareness on the necessity of
environment protection.
4 Societal Issues and Environmental Citizenship