Will the upcoming reforms in the transport sector make our daily journeys more comfortable, safe, and environmentally friendly for all road users? By 2035, will our daily commuting habits have changed so that the most of the public chooses public transport for daily mobility, walks shorter distances, or uses environmentally friendly micro-mobility tools? What needs to be done today to make this happen? European Union (EU) funding will not be enough—where will we get the additional money? How significant will the role of new technologies be?
The panel discussion "Traffic 2035" organised by the Ministry of Transport on the Riga Technical University (RTU) stage "Future Island" at the festival of conversations "LAMPA" addressed topical issues, such as whether in 10 years' time, the implemented transport sector reforms will make our daily commuting environmentally friendly and safe for all road users. The representatives of reformers, industry experts, and society discussed these issues. The panel discussion was organized into three blocks.
The participants of the first panel included Kaspars Briskens, Minister of Transport; Dr. Rudolfs Vilde, Board Member of the Young Doctors Association, resident physician and pulmonologist at Pauls Stradins University Hospital; and Viesturs Laurs, traffic infrastructure planner at IE.LA inženieri.
The second discussion block featured Kaspars Briskens, Minister of Transport; Juris Kreicbergs, Head of Statistical Data Processing at CSDD and Assistant Professor at RTU; and Dr. Kristiāns Alpe, Traumatologist, and Orthopedist. They discussed issues related to traffic safety, focusing on the implemented improvements and outcomes, with particular emphasis on the importance of safe micro-mobility in the overall traffic environment. The discussion also explored our daily commuting patterns and habits, highlighting responsible driving and mutual respect on the roads. The discussion was followed by the improvisational theatre group "Two" which continued the theme of "Traffic 2035" with exploration of current realities and future challenges in a lighter way.
To gather public opinion on the use of public transport in the future, the festival participants were invited to take part in a survey titled "What would encourage you to use public transport more in the future?". To celebrate Latvia's 20th anniversary of membership in the European Union, visitors to the festival also had the opportunity to view the exhibition "The European Union's Contribution to Sustainable Mobility," which provided information on transport and communications projects implemented with the EU funding.
The participation of the MoT at the festival of conversations "LAMPA" was financed by EU funds.
Panel discussion "Traffic 2035" at the festival of conversations "LAMPA" on 6 July 2024.
Video review from the festival.
Satiksmes ministrijas dalība uz RTU peldošās skatuves "Nākotnes sala" sarunu festivālā "LAMPA" tika nodrošināta ar ES Tehniskās palīdzības finansējumu.
