Letter to the editor – alternatives to the car?
In the “Fatherland” article “LIEmobil wants to stimulate cultural change in public transport” from July 13, Jürgen Frick, the managing director of LIEmobil, says, among other things: “The crux of the matter is that the prosperity and high availability of parking spaces allows many people the luxury of Transport not having to look at the price.» That’s true, with the note that parking generally costs too little and often nothing at all. And that the bus is unfortunately too often stuck in traffic due to a lack of bus preference.
The cultural change does not only affect the use of public transport instead of traveling alone in the car; a car pool is also collective traffic. For everyday needs, your own feet and the bicycle are very often suitable and healthy means of transport. Because about half of the car journeys are up to 5 kilometers short, about two thirds up to 10 kilometers. These are comfortable cycling distances with today’s common e-bikes.
But it is not enough to make alternatives to the car more attractive. Politicians must have the courage to make cars less attractive. Only then will many people switch to alternatives to the car.
In the opinion of the VCL, the following measures are necessary to relieve the streets of avoidable car traffic and to make walking, cycling, carpooling and public transport more attractive:
1st campaign for active mobility (walking, cycling) and thus a higher quality of life thanks to better fitness and health.
2. Management of all public parking spaces in the state and municipalities from the 1st minute.
3. Corporate mobility management with incentives (pull) and discouragement (push), included for all employers over 50.
4. Bus preference on all roads with a risk of congestion through lane stops or bus bays with traffic lights and – where possible – bus lanes with traffic lights.
5. Significant improvement of the infrastructure for walking and cycling.
6. Not making infrastructure more attractive for cars.
Traffic Club Liechtenstein (VCL)