EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Sustainable Transport Modes Strategy

Sustainable Transport Modes Strategy - San Sebastián, ES

Introduction

The use of sustainable means of transport, such as walking, bycicle or public transport, improves mobility and urban quality.

Problem

At the end of the eighties, San Sebastián decided to review its city planning. The economic reactivation led to an increase in private car mobility and to the deterioration of environmental conditions and the use of the more sustainable methods of transport, such as walking, bicycles and public transport.

Description

After thirty years of significant increase in private car use, with negative effects from the environmental and city-planning point of view, in 1990 the San Sebastián City Council began a new combined policy of mobility and urban quality. The objective is to promote the sustainable methods of transport (walk, bicycle and public transport) and to recover public space.

This project, up to now, has developed significant stretches of the pedestrian route network, which now has the same importance as the road network in town planning. 3 Km of pedestrian streets and many more in adapted routes have been created, and over 120,000 m2 of public space have been recovered for pedestrian use. A part of the cycle routes network has also been built (15 km. of the 40 envisaged), as well as the network of routes reserved for public transport, which is nowadays over 5 km in length.

Results

The most outstanding achievements up to now are:

Development of safe and attractive pedestrian routes.
Increase of the public space intended for pedestrian transit or leisure areas, recovering areas previously destined for motor traffic or parking.
Improvement in the environmental conditions in wide areas of the city, with a reduction of noise and air pollution.
Creation of a cycle routes network and reintroduction of the bicycle as a means of transport
Establishment of a network of routes reserved for public transport, increase in the coverage of the network, improvement of frequency and quality and the gradual introduction of low-deck buses that are accessible to all members of the population. As a result, the number of passengers on urban buses has increased by 10%.

Contact info

San Sebastián City Council
C/ Urdaneta, 13 3
20006 San Sebastián
Spain
Phone: +34 943481354
Fax: +34 943481328
Josu Benaito Villagarcía

Project start date

30/11/2006

Links

Library Cities for a More Sustainable Future (in Spanish)Donostia-San Sebastián City Council (in Spanish)

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Transport and infrastructure

Keywords

Public transport