What do you think are the biggest challenges for public transport?
Firstly, the lack of real management decisions which indicates the priority of public transport in the city. Secondly, financial challenges of Polish Jednostki Samorządu Terytorialnego in the current environment and the corresponding limited financial resources for public transport.
How should urban mobility look?
Most importantly, it should be planned long-term, and on top of that, plans should be put into action (which goes without saying, but too often we have good ideas that are not accomplished in practice). Within these plans, there should be clearly defined strategic objectives related to priorities for, among other things, public transport (which will be seen comprehensively: from parking policy to investment decisions).
Is there a space for the development of flexible shared transport in Poland?
Yes, as an element of a coherent transport system in the city.
What can we do to enhance and promote public transport?
Activities should be carried out so that public transport is above all fast and affordable to use, in all its aspects. Activities should be undertaken on a macro scale (ticketing systems, new
infrastructure investments) as well as a micro scale (priorities at junctions, availability of stops). It is important to carry out promotional activities at the same time, in order to change the image of public transport (for many people who have been used to a car for many years, a first ride on, for example, a rapid urban train is a positive shock).
What is the biggest barrier to changes in 2 years for public transport / urban mobility?
The lack of coherent transport policy at central and regional level. At the local level, these are also significant financial limitations for local authorities.
Do you think that autonomous buses or autobuses can be a real solution to some public transport problems? If so, in what time?
Definitely yes, in the medium term (up to 7 years) they will appear in a large number of Polish cities (although in each of them as a small/test percentage of the total number of buses). In
the long term, they can completely replace buses with drivers.
What do you think will be the biggest benefits from autonomizing transport for operators and organizers?
Reduction of costs of functioning public transport and increasing its safety (especially, vs individual transport) which will be an important marketing element.
Will legislation finally catch up with technology?
Unfortunately, the legislation will always be at the stage of ‘catching up’ rather than getting ahead as it is not possible to make laws for the technology that does not yet exist. That is why tests are so important (look at piloting of autonomous buses for example in Gdańsk), because they show legal restrictions which we will have to face in max. 2-3 years. Testing implementations give us time to plan legal solutions.