Sustainable Public Transportation, in particular, public transit system developments, is at the forefront of cities’ efforts to foster inclusive, sustainable development. The United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals – which set global targets to guide the world’s development pathway – include a target (Sustainable Development Target 11.2) that calls for “safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable” public transit to help deliver resilient and inclusive cities.
The Urban Environment and Social Inclusion Index (USEI) includes two indicators tracking residents’ proximity to public transit and public transportation coverage for more than 30+ cities, with both developed and developing economies. While statistical results offer clear indications for the progress of sustainable public transportation in cities, it is equally important to contextualize these results by looking at transportation trends, and exploring location-specific opportunities and challenges in building sustainable public transportation systems.
China, as a rapidly urbanizing country with huge population, faces challenges such as traffic congestion, but is also leading the development of sustainable transport systems with its strong support for electric vehicle deployment.
In this interview, Daizong Liu, China Transport Director at the World Resources Institute, answers three transportation-related questions with Data-Driven Yale researcher Tina Huang.
- What is the current state of the public transportation in Chinese cities and the implications of these systems for people living there?
- What are the driving forces behind electric vehicle development in China?
- What are Chinese cities doing to improve the quality and efficiency of public transit systems? What are some ways to ensure the financial sustainability of public transit systems?
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