Introduction
For Post 85, we provide descriptions and analysis of the amount and type of public transport used on a daily basis by citizens of leading greenhouse emitting countries. We are referring mainly to buses and trains, with special attention paid to trends in automated transport.
The analysis includes the number and types of automated and non-automated vehicles in use in each country; the numbers of people they transport each day; they ways in which they are used and the services they provide; the types and amount of fuel that they use; the per person cost of using this mode of transport; and most importantly, the degree to which they decrease or increase greenhouse gas emissions.
The table below provides highlights of automated public transport trends in each country. Complete Country Reports follow.
| Country | Public Transport Trends |
| Brazil |
|
| Canada |
|
| China |
|
| European Union |
|
| France |
|
| Germany |
|
| India |
|
| Indonesia |
|
| Japan |
|
| Mexico |
|
| Nigeria |
|
| South Africa |
|
| Spain |
|
| Turkey |
|
| United Kingdom |
|
| United States |
|
Country Reports
Automated Public Transportation in Brazil
Public transportation in Brazil plays an essential role in urban mobility, and millions of citizens use it daily. The main means of public transportation are buses and urban trains, which connect different regions and facilitate the population’s movement.Number and Types of Vehicles in Use Brazil has a diverse fleet of public vehicles. According to data…
Canada’s Vast Expanses of Wilderness and Long Distances Between Cities, Towns, and Rural Communities Create Challenges for Public Transport Systems
Canada’s vast expanses of wilderness and long distances between cities, towns, and rural communities create challenges for public transport systems. Statistics Canada reported 16.5 million commuters in May 2024, 4 out of 5 using a car, truck, or van. Made in Canada, a grassroots agency notes that during early COVID-19 in February 2020, Canada had…
China Embraces Automation to Tackle Transportation Challenges and Create a More Sustainable Future
China is experiencing a transportation metamorphosis driven by the rapid growth of automated public transit. From driverless subway cars gliding beneath bustling city streets to electric buses silently navigating urban corridors, the nation is embracing automation to tackle transportation challenges and create a more sustainable future. Recent data reveals the impressive scale of this transformation…
Automated Public Transport in the EU
In the EU, transport is responsible for roughly 25% of the climate emissions. Achieving zero emission mobility is therefore a critical and necessary objective of EU climate policy. In addition to the material climate impact, the ever-increasing number of vehicles on our roads has led to a drastic increase in congestion and air pollution. Resolving…
France is at the Forefront of Automated Public Transport that Helps Reduce CO2 Emissions
Current Status France has made significant advancements in automated public transport, particularly in metro and bus systems. Cities like Paris, Lyon, Lille, and Rennes operate fully automated metro lines, while autonomous bus trials are underway in Paris, Nantes, Toulouse, and other urban centers. Several cities are integrating automated trams, with plans to expand driverless transport…
About 90% of Germany’s Federal Rail Fleet Operates on Electric Train Paths
Germany, with more than 84 million inhabitants, is located in the heart of Europe and is a crucial road and rail junction within the continent. Hundreds of thousands of people commuting to or traveling through Germany daily rely on Germany’s bus and train network.In 2023, approximately 80,760 buses and coaches were in operation on German…
India Aims to Reduce Road Transport Emissions by 25% to 50% Below 2020 Levels by 2050
India has about 1.5 billion people who live in distributed areas across large cities, urban centers, and semi-urban and rural areas, with a rising trend of people’s migration to urban areas. According to a World Bank study, more than 70% of the existing population in the country in the coming year will be migrating to…
Indonesia Actively Integrates Automated and Electric Public Transportation, Focusing Primarily on Buses and Trains
Indonesia, a country with a rapidly growing urban population and rising greenhouse gas emissions, is taking significant steps towards automated and electric public transit. The nation’s commitment to reducing emissions through sustainable transport solutions could serve as a model for other developing countries. Indonesia actively integrates automated and electric public transportation, focusing primarily on buses…
Japan’s Strategic Shift Towards Automation within the Public Transport Sector is Intrinsically Linked with the Nation’s Broader Environmental Objectives and Sustainability Commitments
Japan has consistently been a global leader in technological innovation, particularly within public transportation systems. The nation increasingly integrates automated systems into cars, buses, and trains, driven by a commitment to efficiency and sustainability for addressing pressing demographic challenges. This article examines the current state of automated public transport in Japan, analyzing the types and…
Mexico’s Ongoing Investments in Electrification and Infrastructure Expansion Pave the Way for a More Sustainable and Accessible Public Transport System
This text analyzes the amount and type of automated public transport used daily by citizens of Mexico. By automated public transport in Mexico, we are referring mainly to buses and trains. Automated public transport plays an essential role in the daily lives of millions of people in Mexico, particularly in densely populated urban areas such…
Fully Autonomous Vehicles May Not Dominate South African Roads Anytime Soon
Autonomous vehicles are also referred to as self-driving cars. Although automated vehicles are a hot topic in the global automotive industry, there are currently no self-driving cars on the roads of South Africa. The South African government plans to introduce them in the future; however, legal and safety issues need to be addressed first. While…
Currently, Only Level 2 Autonomy Vehicles are Allowed to Operate in Spain
These vehicles can perform certain driving tasks such as accelerating, braking, and staying in the lane, but the driver must always be prepared to intervene and take control. The transport sector is already the largest CO2 emitter in Spain, far ahead of industry (18%) and agriculture (12%), and its contribution increases every year, pushing…
Türkiye has Incorporated Automated Transport into its National Strategy
Türkiye’s public transportation primarily relies on conventional buses, trams, and metro systems, all of which require human operation. Istanbul and Ankara have extensive metro networks, and Istanbul’s Metrobus system serves as a high-capacity Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) model. However, no fully automated public transport systems are currently in operation. Türkiye’s Policy and Development Plans on…
Docklands Light Railway Service Shows Promise in Reducing Emissions in the UK
The United Kingdom has been at the forefront of integrating automated systems into its public transportation network. From the early adoption of automatic train operation on the London Underground to recent trials of autonomous buses, the UK has continually explored innovative solutions to enhance its public transit infrastructure. Additionally, it analyses trends over the past…
US has a Low Level of Public Transport Compared to Other Developed Nations
As of 2021, there were 64,000 motor buses on the road in the United States for transportation usage, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. In addition, there were 1,415 passenger rail cars in the United States that same year for Amtrak, the country’s national public passenger rail service. Interestingly, overall commuter rail use (think…