The Transformational Power of Urban Mobility That Works For Everyone

Public transportation has been ever-present in my life for as long as I can remember — from taking it to get to school as a student, to traveling across multiple transport modes and cities to get to my first office job. It was often the most efficient choice, whether I was running errands or even lugging home pieces of furniture that were just too good to pass up (much to the chagrin of my fellow passengers). Access to public transportation and its transformational power always got me where I needed to go.

We know that as economic and social progress has increased over the last century, so has the environmental impact of our global population.  According to the United Nations, our lifestyles are responsible for an estimated two-thirds of global emissions, most largely driven by how we choose to get from point A to point B. Since 2017, transportation has overtaken electricity generation as the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States.

We also know that across communities, the generation of these transportation-driven emissions is not distributed equally. Earlier this month, the Mastercard Economics Institute published a study that analyzed the economic characteristics of transit deserts, or areas where people have little to no access to public transportation, and the impact on their populations in over 27,000 ZIP codes across the United States. 

The data showed that the lowest-income areas who do not have access to public transportation tend to spend roughly 36 percent of card-covered consumption on automotive fuel. In other words, low-income populations have limited choice but to spend their money on the most expensive and environmentally detrimental form of transportation: personal automobiles. By contrast, populations in areas with more public transportation spend a much lower amount on fuel and generate lower emissions from automobiles. 

This is a pervasive trend. Many people living in growing urban populations struggle daily to find the most cost-effective, seamless and sustainable ways to get around. 

As cities aim to transition to a low-carbon economy that serves everyone, increasing accessibility and ridership of public transportation and enhancing micro-mobility solutions can be an effective area to direct resources. We have a tremendous opportunity to focus our efforts on matching growing rider demand with transportation options that are both highly accessible and serve every type of rider. 

At Mastercard, we are embracing innovation to simplify the user experience and make the more sustainable transit choice the more accessible, seamless transit choice. As a technology company in the payments industry, we understand the revolutionary potential of frictionless public transportation and its ability to sustain and increase ridership. Our micro-mobility efforts are centered on the notion that ensuring ease of access for first- and last-mile transit will significantly increase ridership and yield lower impact on the environment when compared to driving in a vehicle with an internal combustion engine. 

In 2022, we helped to support  our partner Freebike, launch a tap-and-ride system for 1,100 e-bikes in Helsinki, Finland, to promote sustainable and interoperable mobility.. As more individuals opt for public transportation, bikes and scooters, we will see reduced congestion in cities and reduced carbon emissions more generally. This program effectively opened the door to expansion of the tap and ride program that was launched in Lahti, Finland last month. 

As transit networks become more efficient and reliable, they also contribute to economic growth. People who experience limited, unreliable, or inadequate access to transportation networks disproportionally face difficulty gaining and retaining access to job opportunities, vital services, or professional commitments. In this way, transportation networks — when efficient, reliable and diligent — are a powerful tool that can broaden opportunity and promote economic growth.

Increasing financial inclusion and connecting people to economic growth opportunities is central to Mastercard’s mission of powering economies and empowering people. And we recognize that the path to true financial inclusion often begins with strengthening physical inclusion. That’s why we are committed to expanding our urban mobility solutions, so all communities can benefit from economic prosperity and improved environmental sustainability. By increasing access to urban mobility options, we can better meet our global sustainability goals and contribute to an inclusive, resilient global economy.

On a personal note, as I raise my children in a world where driving is quite prevalent, I find myself encouraging the practice of opting for public transport. In showing my kids how to read a schedule, how to tap, the importance of sustainability, and the impact we’re having on the climate, I watch their sense of independence grow with every journey. One day, they’ll be lugging home furniture or groceries I am sure, but for them at least, it will be just a tap — and not a quest — to find that last quarter.

This article series is sponsored by Mastercard and produced by the TriplePundit editorial team.