Stories of Sustainable Transportation
The future of sustainable transport is a powerful tool to make cities more equitable, less polluted, and more efficient. This year’s Sustainable Transport Cluster in the Climate Leaders Program share personal experiences with public transport in cities significant to their lives, reflecting on the reforms needed to shape the transit networks of the future. Izzy Thomas begins with stories from London’s tube network and its potential to become a greater social equalizer. Yvonne Chang explores how long commutes challenge us to redefine the concept of public transportation. Charles Ofosu highlights the promising future of Accra’s proposed Bus Rapid Transit System.
Image Source.
Beyond Commuting in The Beijing Subway.
by Yvonne Chang
I spent four years of my university life in Beijing, China. For me, the scattered fragments of my memories there are all intricately connected by one thing: the Beijing subway.
As the world’s largest metro network [1], the Beijing subway is a marvel of complexity. Despite handling a massive daily ridership, it remains remarkably clean, organized, and safe. Functioning as a reliable tool for commuters and a significant contributor to the city’s carbon reduction efforts.
Interestingly, the subway has also become a unit of distance measurement in Beijing. No matter where you are, it seems it always takes over half an hour to get anywhere by subway. For those living in the suburbs, commutes often stretch to two or even three hours—a situation rarely seen in cities even of a similar scale. Beijingers have grown accustomed to these lengthy commutes, forging a paradoxical relationship with the transit system: a familiar yet alien companion. Familiar, because I spent a fifth of my day on the subway; alien, because my time there often felt gray and disconnected.
A study by the University of Cambridge found that people who commute for over an hour daily face a 33% higher risk of depression compared to those with shorter commutes [2]. Each additional 10 minutes further increases this risk by 0.5% [3]. The subway places us in small, silent boxes where interaction is limited to our phones. Physically close to others, yet emotionally distant—a paradoxical hallmark of modern urban life.
I’ve grown up navigating the complexities of urban public transit systems, which reflect the fundamental rules shaping a city. In Beijing’s case, when commuting consumes far more of our lives than it should, while efforts to reduce commute times (often requiring significant time to achieve) are underway, perhaps it’s time to redefine what commuting means. Could commuting be reimagined by integrating comfort, art, or even entertainment?
While primarily a mode of transport, the subway holds the potential to enrich a city’s cultural and emotional landscape. In the 1980s, Beijing’s Line 2 set a precedent in China by installing six murals on its station platforms. By the end of 2021, more than 170 of the 456 stations in Beijing’s metro network had integrated public art installations [4]. Similarly, some Chinese cities are experimenting with tunnel media, where high-speed trains project dynamic images onto subway tunnel walls, transforming routine commutes into immersive visual experiences [5].
Beyond platform art, I have explored how emerging technologies can further enhance the commuting experience. My research into VR, AR, and digital twins has focused on making transit not just more efficient but also more engaging. These technologies can alleviate the monotony of confined spaces and reduce psychological stress. Meanwhile, some innovations aim to improve the design of transit systems themselves. For instance, Singapore has developed the Virtual Reality Commuting Simulator (VRCS) to optimize first- and last-mile connectivity. By immersing participants in a simulated urban environment, VRCS captures real-time behavioral data, enabling planners to refine infrastructure such as pedestrian walkways and transit hubs without relying solely on traditional surveys [6].
By championing sustainable transportation and enhancing low-carbon commuting experiences, I aim to foster a deeper connection between people and their cities. When designing innovative solutions for greener travel, I integrate my perspective to advance environmental goals while transforming commuting into a more engaging and uplifting experience. To me, public transportation is more than just a way to get around—it’s a space with the potential to tell stories, spark creativity, and build meaningful connections.
Transport situation at the CBD. Source.
Agyeman (2015). Source.
CLP Cluster logo generated by Fotor AI.
making fares fairer In The London Tube.
by Izzy Thomas
Growing up in London, I have developed a great love for the Underground. As a child, getting on the tube was the first part of any exciting day out. In my teenage years, it was a ticket to freedom, exploring new parts of the city on the weekend. The iconic aesthetic of the maps, signs and stations will always make me feel at home.
For these reasons, when I was 15, I was eager for my first work experience to be at Transport for London. I will never forget standing in the unfinished Crossrail tunnel at Tottenham Court Road, feeling the weight of the earth above me, and knowing that the commuters and tourists flooding the tiled tunnels a few months down the line would never see the exposed earth. This was the first considered step I had taken in starting my career in sustainability. The inspiring engineers and workers I met fostered an even deeper love for the public transport system that I grew up on.
After a trip to Lisbon years later, I started to look at the tube map critically. Lisbon has adopted a flat-fare system on their public transport network to great effect: the new fare system has been shown to most benefit the least wealthy [1]. London uses a zonal-based fare scheme, where the further out you live, the more expensive it is to travel into the centre. As people are getting priced out of the centre of town, a negative feedback loop has been set up, where many of the lowest-paid earners have the most expensive rides to work.
The Green Party, of which I am a member, has been calling for a fare zone abolishment since 2016. They propose to make up the lost ticket revenue by raising congestion charge fees of car drivers; shifting the burden of the network onto the polluters that don’t use it. This sounds compelling to me but criticized by opponents as deeply unfair.
It’s hard for me to imagine Green's dream becoming reality. Shifting the burden of costs onto car users, who have already been hit by the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expansion and increased fees introduced in 2023 makes this too politically unpopular. But I think, at a minimum, we should heed advice given by the think tank, Centre For London, who advise that the current zonal boundaries should be reconsidered to reflect the ‘shifting geographies of poverty and affordability’ in the city {2].
This case study provides an example of how public transport should not only be a tool to decarbonize our cities but make them more equitable places to live. As a climate leader, I hope to work at the intersection of engineering and social justice, ensuring that the technological solutions of tomorrow are making the world a fairer and greener place. I hope, on your next public transport journey, this piece will make you reflect on the fare-system and which groups are benefitting the most from it.
Beijing Subway Map @Travel China Guide
Mural "Great River Flowing East" at Xizhimen Station, Line 2 @ Beijing Evening News
Accra’s proposed Bus Rapid Transport System.
by Charles Ofosu
Imagine standing at the Central Business District of Accra, capital city of Ghana, on a sweltering weekday. The chaos of honking horns from commercial vehicles (locally called trotro), impatient commuters elbowing their way onto already-packed minibuses, non-functioning traffic lights, and the choking plumes of acrid smoke exiting the tailpipes, stinging eyes and coating the air with a grimy haze tells an unpleasant story of Accra's rush hour and its contribution to climate change. As a resident of this city, this gridlock was more than an inconvenience. It was a daily battle. But what if there were a better way?
This is where Accra's proposed Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) “Aayalolo” system, introduced in November 2016, enters the conversation, not as a far-fetched dream but as a transformative solution waiting to unfold.
The idea is simple yet powerful: dedicated bus lanes weaving through the city’s most congested routes, allowing sleek, modern buses to glide past the bottlenecks. Imagine a commuter boarding a BRT bus at Kasoa and arriving at the Central Business District in half the time it would take in a private car. No honking horns, no erratic lane switches, no wrestling getting on a commercial vehicle—just smooth, stress-free, predictable travel.
At its core, the proposed BRT system aims to revolutionize how Accra moves. It’s not just about faster trips; it’s about creating a city where people can breathe easier knowing one can get to their destination on time. By reducing reliance on private cars, BRT would cut down on vehicle emissions, contributing to cleaner air and a healthier environment [1].
As a person deeply committed to climate resilience and sustainable urban development, the vision of Accra’s Bus Rapid Transport system resonates strongly with me. Beyond being a solution to the city’s traffic woes, the BRT represents an opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and contribute to the fight against climate change [2].
Throughout the years, this change in the transport sector is what I have yearned for. As a climate leader, I am committed to taking the necessary steps especially through advocating for policies that prioritize sustainable public transport infrastructure, and community engagement that ensures the system meets the needs of all users equitably - to help not only Accra but globally, in achieving the vision of a sustainable, efficient, and equitable transport system. The BRT system is more than a transportation project; it’s a pathway to a healthier, greener future for all.