Travel will always be about perspective. Not only the perspective gained from visiting a new place, but also the perspective that comes from comparing how different countries approach the same challenges. As someone who grew up in Romania, now studies at the Vienna University of Economics and Business in Austria, and is preparing for an exchange semester in Aberdeen, Scotland, I will be experiencing three very different approaches to sustainable mobility.
Austria is often considered a role model for environmentally friendly transport, and rightly so. Vienna has one of the best public transport systems in Europe. Until recently, an annual ticket for all public transport in Vienna cost only €365 – effectively one euro per day. Unfortunately, the price has recently been increased as part of budget-saving measures. Personally, I think that if governments are looking for areas to reduce spending, public transport should be among the very last. The concept of induced demand has repeatedly shown that lower prices encourage more people to switch from private cars to buses and trains. Germany’s €9 ticket is an excellent example: despite the remarkably low fare, public transport experienced record passenger numbers and unprecedented demand. If I could contribute one policy idea towards a more sustainable future, it would be to make public transport as affordable and accessible as possible. This would be consistent with the ambition behind the UN’s vision of creating sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11), where environmentally friendly mobility becomes the obvious choice rather than the expensive one.
Romania presents a completely different picture. It is the country where I grew up, and where unfortunately sustainable travel has not received much political attention. Many people rely on private cars because reliable alternatives often do not exist. What I find particularly striking is that Romania once had a much stronger railway network than it does today. Looking back roughly a century, its rail infrastructure was considerably more extensive and efficient. Over time, underinvestment and changing political priorities led to its gradual decline (just like in the US). This reminds me that sustainability is not only about building new infrastructure but also about preserving and modernising what previous generations have already created.
Soon, I will have the opportunity to discover Scotland, and I am genuinely curious to see how sustainable mobility is approached there. Rather than comparing countries to declare a winner, I hope to learn from different systems. During my stay in Aberdeen, I intend to buy a bicycle for everyday journeys, rely almost entirely on walking and public transport within the city, and explore the rest of Scotland by train whenever possible instead of renting a car. Quality education (SDG 4), which encapsulates also education on the environment, is one of the most powerful tools for shaping future generations, and for me an exchange semester is not merely about academic knowledge, but also about knowledge of the sustainability issues the world is now facing.
