The Future of Public Transport: Green Mobility Options
DEAR JAKARTA, 2050SUSTAINABLE PROGRESS
Kimora Marjorie Sutisna
10/19/20252 min read
Imagine a world where you could walk the streets, breathing in the clean fresh air. Where buses guide silently through the streets, trains run on renewable energy, and green fills the land. It may seem like we are living in this world right now, however it’s not exactly the case. When you are walking down the street, especially in cities like Jakarta, you are most likely breathing in polluted air. Air pollution is currently one of the biggest problems in the world today. Why is air pollution bad? Well, it is one of the biggest factors in global warming, as the increase of carbon dioxide emissions act as ‘greenhouse gases’, trapping heat in the atmosphere. Aside from global warming, polluted air is also extremely bad for human health, being able to cause respiratory and heart diseases, cancer, and strokes. One of the biggest causes of air pollution is the excessive use of gas vehicles. Transportation through these vehicles significantly pollutes the air by burning fossil fuels and emitting them into the air. This is why the best way to tackle air pollution, is to change from the source. Green mobility is a new type of transportation, involving the use of sustainable and energy-efficient transportation methods with a low environmental impact, moving away from fossil-fuel dependent options. The future of public transport lies in adopting green mobility solutions that are efficient, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable.
The current transportation system utilizing the burning of fossil fuels have already accounted for around 1/5th of global carbon dioxide emissions. This is found especially in cars and motorcycles. For instance, an average car can emit around 166 g/pkm. That is a lot coming from one car. Road travels account for ¾ of transport emissions, mostly coming from passenger vehicles.
Electric buses are one of the new innovations that promise to revolutionize public transport. Electric buses are powered by renewable energy sources and significantly reduce air and noise pollution in cities. Some cities, such as Shenzhen, China, have completely switched to electric buses. In addition to electric buses, hydrogen powered buses and trains are cleaner alternatives especially for long-distance travel where battery powered options are constrained. Other forms of Green Mobility are now available. The electric scooter, bike, e-bikes, and e-scooters as well as scheduled vans are in line with public transport. These services are ideal in solving the '''First and Last Mile''' problem. Green Mobility makes it easier for public transport users as well as those who are inclined to use private cars. Public transport as we know it, is also getting adopted to the new technologies. The use of contactless payment, AI, and real-time apps are making commuting easier and user-friendly compared to private vehicles. In addition, harnessing public transport data allows for better planning which also helps in optimizing fuel and cut down on traffic.
Sources:
https://www.greenh2world.com/post/green-mobility