WRITTEN QUESTION E-2549/02

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(12 September 2002)

Subject: Public transport in urban areas 1: making towns accessible for tourists and other visitors by means of better information and sales

1. Is the Commission aware that there are major differences between towns in EU Member States as regards the extent to which local and regional transport are accessible for visitors unfamiliar with local practices, the route network, the fare system and the language? In some towns, excellent information is provided and tickets are readily available, whereas in others, visitors are forced to choose between walking, taking a taxi, undertaking an extensive preliminary study of the local public transport system or putting up with surprises and misunderstandings, with the result that in many cases the ticket used is either too cheap for the journey in question (and therefore invalid) or too expensive, or that people end up at the wrong destination.

2. Does the Commission agree that it would be worthwhile to improve the accessibility of urban public transport for tourists and other visitors from outside at European level by actively encouraging urban authorities and public transport companies to seek to ensure that:

- signs are installed at central locations showing the route network, the boundaries of the urban area or of any fare zones within it and information about types of ticket and where they can be obtained,

- leaflets are made available at central locations such as railway stations, the main square, tourist information offices, department stores, bookshops, tourist shops or hotels and youth hostels, containing information about the route network, zone boundaries, types of ticket, period of validity, authorisation to transfer between routes, fare reductions for children, older people and groups and the fares to be paid for the various types of ticket,

- at the minimum, daily passes valid for the whole urban network, and possibly passes valid for several days, are made available at an acceptable price,

- ticket dispensers are installed to supply daily passes, multi-ride tickets and single-ride tickets, or it is made possible in other ways to obtain such tickets quickly, easily and at all times?

Joint answerto Written Questions E-2549/02 and E-2550/02given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(22 October 2002)

The Commission is aware of these problems, and agrees that it is worthwhile to address them. Effective solutions benefit tourists and other visitors, resident citizens, and the environment.

The Commission already actively encourages authorities and operators to tackle these problems. It has launched research projects to identify solutions; cooperated with the European Committee for Standardization to develop quality standards for public transport, drawing on this research; sponsored the European Local Transport Information Service, a computerised database of good practice(1); encouraged networking between city authorities at European level to address transport problems; and

organised the Citizens' Network Benchmarking Initiative, under which authorities and operators studied good examples of integration in cities like Madrid and Prague. It has supported the development of new services that using mobile telephones and the internet to provide travel information on the move, tailored to individuals' needs and updated in real time.

The Commission will continue to develop these practical tools, and shares the view that in some cases, a higher level of encouragement or obligation is needed. This is mainly a matter for Member States. The Community has a role to play in addressing such quality problems where poor standards in one Member State impede people from another; or where it is important to reinforce public service objectives alongside market opening in network industries like electricity, gas, telecommunications, postal services and public transport.

Accordingly, in its proposal for a Regulation on public services in public transport(2), the Commission has proposed quality factors that all authorities will be required to take into account including ticketing and information as well as minimum requirements for the information that all operators must make available.

Later this year, the Commission plans to propose a Regulation on customer rights in passenger rail. This will address the question of how long distance rail travellers get information and tickets for public transport in their cities of destination.

The Commission is launching a study of integration in public transport, to report before the end of 2003. It will cover ticketing and information.

It will examine whether there is a need for Community action to secure adequate standards.

These measures support the Community's objective of promoting sustainable tourism and offering tourists alternatives to the use of the car, by encouraging transport companies, tour operators, tourist attractions, tourism businesses and tourist information services to work together to manage the quality of tourist destinations.

The Commission believes that the idea of a standard public transport ticketing and information package has merit. It wishes to examine it further recognising that an international standard would need to leave room for authorities to take account of local conditions and regional or national standards. It will ensure that this happens as part of the study of integration in public transport.

(1) www.eltis.org.

(2) OJ C 151 E, 25.6.2002.