Index IntroductionSustainable transport proposalsSustainable transport in the EUSustainable transport in the UKConclusionIntroductionSustainability is one of the few ideas in society that has support across the political and ideological spectrum, or so it seems. How to proceed is another topic that often forms the point of debate among scholars, advocates, and conservatives who argue that sustainability can be achieved without harming business growth (Gunther, 2015). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay There are different definitions of sustainability depending on the source of the literature, but the definition considered most universal is that of the 1987 United Nations Report, "Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development: Our Common Future" or commonly known as the Brundtland Report. The United Nations report consolidated the definition of sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the well-being of future generations” (Cassen, 1987). Sustainable transportation, the main topic of this report, can also be defined in parallel to the normal definition of sustainability, a source of transportation that does not rely on diminishing natural resources such as oil and gas (Low, 2003). Sustainable transport, unlike sustainability in general, is narrower and being narrow means it is often visible and debated. The European Commission published its White Paper on sustainable transport with the aim of reducing congestion and the risk of pollution (EU, 2012). Many EU countries have decided to implement sustainable transport in different ways. Some EU countries have been praised for their implementation of strong policies conducive to sustainable transport. The report aims to discuss sustainable transport as a policy and its implementation across the EU, particularly in the UK. Some of these discussions will include country-specific innovations and programs that promote sustainable transportation in one form or another. The focus on the UK is narrowed to its progress in implementing these policies and its shortcomings compared to other European countries. He will also dedicate time to discussing cycling as it is one of the most promoted forms of sustainable transport in EU Member States. Sustainable transport proposals This is the section to discuss the most popular proposals that have been promoted as plausible, efficient and yet sustainable. Some of these proposals include discouraging the use of public transport, investing in public transport, promoting the use of bicycles and car sharing programs for areas that do not have access to public transport according to the study (BBC, 2006). Aside from cycling, a form of transportation that is now heavily promoted, there are other energy sources that can be used as some opponents of cycling argue that it is only feasible for short distances as long-distance travel is still achieved through transportation traditional ones such as cars and trucks. Some of the alternatives to oil and gas include hydrogen, electricity, biofuels, solar energy, and nuclear energy (Evans, 2011). Off the list, solar and electricity stand out because they have proven to be commercially viable. This can be seen in the explosion and adoption of electric cars in recent years. Although their adoption is not comparable to fossil-burning vehicles, their growth has increased every year. It has also been predicted that electric cars will reach 125 million car sales by 2030 (DiChristopher,2018). policies to better meet today's needs without compromising the well-being of future generations. The European Commission has outlined in a recent report (European Commission, 2018) some of the main challenges it faces in transport and includes congestion, oil dependency and greenhouse gas emissions. It is believed that it has been proposed to reduce emissions by 60% by 2050 compared to 1990 levels. Not only has the EU pursued these goals, it has also invested heavily, for example, it has financed the Connected Europe Facility with over 26 billion euros (European Commission, 2018). Another bold move by the EU was the initiative entitled “EU Cycling Strategy. Recommendations for Delivering Green Growth and an Effective Mobility in 2030”, a document finalized in 2017 by the EU with objectives such as: Cycling should be an equal form of transport Increase cycling use by 50% in all Member States by 2030 Reduce accident rates that result in deaths or injuries among members by half by 2030. Increase investment in cycling to €3 billion over 2021-27; and 6 billion euros from 2028 to 2034” (European Cyclist Federation, 2017). Despite the bold ambitions of the EU which has found numerous white papers and reports to improve transport and improve the environment, some of its member states have been more progressive in their implementation of the objectives set by the EU. Some of these progressive states include Germany, Holland, Spain, France, and Denmark. Germany appears to be the largest country in the EU in terms of population, but has around 83 million inhabitants (Oliphant, 2017), but has been one of the biggest proponents of sustainable transport and has been quite aggressive in pursuing its goals. Their goal is to reduce gas emissions by 40% by 2020 and 95% by 2050 compared to 1990 levels. This goal, while aggressive and ambitious, has implemented policies to ensure the goals are achieved on time ( Sünder, 2017). Germany has managed to build a solid network of highly trains currently used by more than 30 million people per day, a figure expected to grow. For Sünder (2018) “Success in Germany is based on solid knowledge, strategies and innovations such as software experts in train piloting; bike sharing model designers; and developers of climate-resistant concrete. “Just like other European countries, France is also working to improve its transport system and set ambitious goals along the way. A good demonstration of this is the introduction of the individual mass transportation system called Vélib, also known as freedom bicycles (Feng, Affonso, & Zolghadri, 2017). These bicycles allow people to pay low fees to use them and after use they can be parked at any station (Tironi, 2014). Beyond Paris, the city has built more than 195 miles of bike lanes, prioritized pedestrians by renovating public spaces, built new crosswalks, and added more sidewalk space; these policies increased bicycle use by 48% by 2007 according to (Sustainable Transport Award, 2007). The Netherlands has been praised as one of the most environmentally friendly countries for its pro-environmental stance that it has long adopted (Balch, 2013). This is understandable when considering the results obtained compared to other EU Member States. Some of these achievements include the goal of transforming public transport buses into 100% zero-emission buses by 2025 (Dutch Ministry of General Affairs, 2016) or being closer to achieving its goalsof sustainability (Dutch Central Statistical Office, 2018). The bicycle also plays an important role in the eco-sustainable image that the Netherlands has cultivated. This is not without evidence as 70% of residents in cities such as Amsterdam and The Hague cycle (BBC, 2013). This has been possible thanks to the investments made by the Dutch government in infrastructure across the country, which have made cycling the most cost-effective means of transport in the UK. A great example of this can be seen in the city of Groningen, the central train station has underground parking for over 10,000 bicycles (BBC, 2013). Denmark is also another country that has a similar reputation to the Netherlands. These two countries are often mentioned in the same way when talking about sustainability as some of their green policies are similar to each other, especially in larger cities (Krag, 2002). Some cycling statistics in Denmark may help explain why the country is considered a haven for eco-friendly transportation. Some of these statistics provided by (Cycling Embassy of Denmark, 2010) include: 24% of all trips under 5km in Denmark are by bicycle 45% of Danish children cycle to school 44% of Danes do not own a car Finally, Spain, France's neighbor to the south is also another country that has done a lot to adhere to policies favorable to eco-transport. This is evident from some of his policies which will be discussed shortly. First of all, the Urban Mobility Plan, approved by the Madrid City Council in 2014, aims to reduce 3.2 million kilometers traveled on public roads, reduce road traffic by 2020 and reduce 135,000 tonnes of CO2 for Eltis (2014 ). Over the same period, the EU invested 5.5 billion euros in the Spanish economy, earmarking the money for investments in green transport and sustainability at all levels (European Commission, 2015). This is also the case in Valencia, which promotes sustainability as part of its smart city strategy (Match Up Project EU, 2018). Barcelona also implemented a plan called “BARCELONA SUSTAINABLE URBAN MOBILITY PLAN (2013-2018)” which set objectives such as the addition of 210 kilometers of cycle paths (Blanchar, 2015), new orthogonal bus lanes and its key objective is called Superblocks (Agencia de Ecología Urbana de Barcelona, ​​2012). This is a bold plan that involves limiting traffic from the squares of Barcelona and directing it towards some larger streets in order to achieve a traffic reduction of 21% and 60% in the Eixample district according to (Vives, 2018) .Sustainable transport in the UKThe story of Sustainable transport in the UK is very different to that of other European capitals. There are some initiatives that have been put forward or pushed, but there doesn't appear to be a national plan to improve transport across the UK. London, however, has been at the forefront of the push for sustainable transport in the UK. In 2003 the city introduced the 2003 Congestion Pricing Plan which increased motorcycle fares and implemented emissions-based tolls citywide (Sustainable Transportation Award Committee, n.d.). Before the plan, motorists spent 50% of their time in traffic, a downside that cost the city 2-3 million a week, but after its implementation in 2007, congestion had decreased by 21%. According to the Sustainable Transport Award Committee, n.d.), “bus ridership has increased by 45% as people are switching to bus transport in London because their travel time has decreased due to bus pricing.