Place of public transport in European cities and Hungarian transport development (Urban rail or bus?)

Abstract

Nowadays urban transport serves not only the mobility of people but it is a decisive factor from social, economic, political, cultural and ecological points of view. Share of urban population is constantly rising in Europe which goes together with an increasing number of motor vehicles and commuters and causes more and more severe transport and  environmental problems. Available, reliable, affordable, safe, comfortable, sustainable, environmentally and user friendly transport services contribute to a better life of quality in cities in an indirect way. Overall, public transport with its less land use demand, less environmental damage and better accident statistics shall get a more significant role in urban and  suburban mobility in the future. At places where urban rail (tram, metro) gets in competition with  buses clear aim is to prefer the previous  one; In European cities there is a room for public transport and its privileged role is projected to get stronger, primarily at urban rail modes.