Transport

How to create a more competitive, sustainable, safer and efficient transport area in Europe, this was the main issue of the first conference entitled Transport Research Arena (TRA) 2006, which took place in Gothenburg from 12 to 15 June.

 

"40,000 people die on Europe's roads every year. Together, thanks to science and innovation, we can contribute to tackle this problem", said Swedish Minister for communications and regional policies, Ulrica Messing.

 

Janez Potocnik, European Commissioner for science and research, announced an increase of the European budget dedicated to research and transport. Between 2002 and 2006, "the EU has invested more than €250 million on road transport and research. This support will not just continue, but even increase", he said. For the period 2007-2013, "we anticipated that a budget of approximately €4.2 billion will be dedicated to this field".

 

This first conference was an opportunity for the 1,000 participants to coordinate activities in European, national, regional and private research. More than 50 innovative schemes were also displayed.

 

The NICHES (New and Innovative Concepts for Helping European transport Sustainability) project, bringing together various partners including CEMR, presented the "marketing cycling" system: in Lundby district (Sweden), free bikes are provided to the inhabitants; the funding of the scheme is covered by advertising spaces.

 

The next Transport Research Arena conference will take place in Ljubljana in Slovenia, from 21 to 25 April 2008.

 

More information on the "marketing cycling" system in Lundby district.

 

The NICHES website