Milestones of the event

See the press releases related to the 58^th World Congress and Exhibition held in Vienna, Austria, 7-11 June 2009.

THE UITP 58^TH WORLD CONGRESS AND EXHIBITION CLOSED ITS DOORS TODAY IN VIENNA: “UITP SETS THE AMBITION OF DOUBLING PUBLIC TRANSPORT MARKET SHARE WORLDWIDE BY 2025”

Vienna, 11 June 2009: the biennale UITP World Congress and Exhibition closed its doors today in Vienna, concluding one week of exchange, knowledge, innovation, and business for the public transport sector.

More than 2,200 delegates attended the Congress whereas over 6,400 public transport decision-makers visited the Mobility & City Transport Exhibition. On the 26,000 m² of exhibition floor, they discovered the products and innovations presented by 350 companies from 40 countries.

Concluding the event, Mr Hans Rat, UITP Secretary General and Mr Cavalieri, outgoing UITP President, called for all actors to take action: “It is wake up time for us all! Times are critical but they also open new perspectives and opportunities for urban mobility. It is up to each actor of the chain to set its own ambitions and to pick its solutions” they said, referring to the new UITP strategy for the sector ‘Public transport: the smart green solution’.

In order to double public transport market share by 2025, UITP set five strategic axes of action:

• Deliver life-style services so that public transport becomes the mode of choice for citizens;
• Develop visionary integrated urban policies;
• Create a new business culture for the sector;
• Secure stable funding and investment schemes;
• Do not hesitate to use demand management measures

In line with these five strategic axes, Mr Alain Flausch, CEO of STIB and new UITP President, presented his priorities for his two-year term. In order to increase public transport market share, he encouraged his peers to evolve: “From dusty old nice and charming ladies, we need to transform ourselves into modern and technology-driven brands which incorporate in their service innovations and new technologies thereby attracting new customers –the smart traveller- and new staff bluffed by the exciting experience public transport can offer them. Our association should be at the forefront of that battle and facilitate that major move towards innovative public transport”.

The 59^thUITP World Congress and Exhibition will gather public transport operators, authorities, industry and academics in Dubai, in April 2011.

Notes for Editors

UITP’s World Congress and Exhibition was held in Vienna, Austria, 7-11 June 2009. The theme of the event was ‘Public transport: Making the right mobility choices’. UITP (International Association of Public Transport) is the international network for public transport authorities and operators, policy decision-makers, scientific institutes and the public transport supply and service industry. It is a platform for worldwide cooperation, business development and the sharing of know-how between its 3,200 members from 90 countries. UITP is the global advocate for public transport and sustainable mobility, and the promoter of innovations in the sector. For more information, visit www.uitp.org.

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