European CommissionMay 22, 2025

🚉 🚍 🚲 Transport should be available, accessible, and affordable for all.

We have adopted recommendations to tackle transport poverty, so no one is left behind.

Transport poverty is more than an economic challenge. It is a barrier to social inclusion – potentially blocking people’s access to essential services, such as education or healthcare.

By working together, we can build a more sustainable and inclusive transport system that benefits everyone.

More info: https://europa.eu/!tHdmff

Show threadAndrew DalkeMay 22, 2025

@EUCommission

Please remember there are people who will refuse to use Apple or Google phones, as well as people who will refuse to use any smartphone.

If "everyone has the right to access essential services, including transport" then these transport services MUST have a non-smartphone alternative.

This means "providing sustainable mobility on demand" cannot depend on everyone having a smartphone with them.

Show threadcojaJun 7, 2025
@dalke @EUCommission
Good point, but the usage of smart phones is still on the rise (Germany 2023, 82,2%). My mother in law age 95 has one too.
Show threadAndrew DalkeJun 7, 2025

@cojajo @EUCommission

Sure, but that observation is hardly relevant, is it?

If 1% of the EU adult population refuses to use an American-controlled smartphone, or refuses to use a smartphone at all, should they be denied essential services, such as transport, health care, or education?

I do not know what percentage of the population is (or wants to be) this way, but it is not zero.

We can see that in papers like https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/3637402 and Geneva's recent law giving a right to live offline.

Show threadcojaJun 7, 2025

@dalke @EUCommission
That observation is relevant, to me!

If somebody refuses to use a smartphone, they can’t use the provided System.

Universal health care is provided, we do use a European Health Insurance Card. Neither do we need a smart phone to gain education.

Show threadAndrew Dalke

@cojajo @EUCommission

Exactly! Hence any transport system aligned with the vision "Transport should be available, accessible, and affordable for all." *must* support people who do not want to use a smartphone.

It also affects those who have a smartphone but refuse to give American companies and the US gov't control over one's digital life.

My kids' school all but requires parents to have an Android or Apple phone for notices, absences, etc. It took me months to work out an alternative.

Jun 7, 2025 at 7:13pmWeb