World Sustainable Transportation Day; Where did the path start and where does it go? – Mehr News agency RCO News Agency
According to RCO News Agency, quoted by BRICS TV, the World Sustainable Transportation Day is celebrated on November 26 every year. This day in 2023 was designated by the United Nations General Assembly to highlight the role of environmeally friendly transportation in achieving the Sustainable Developme Goals. This sector plays an importa role in the formation of the economies of couries and the world, and its evolution affects the transportation of goods and passengers, as well as the production and consumption process. New technologies also improve the safety, accessibility and efficiency of transportation networks, and the main goal is to reduce carbon emissions and reduce pressure on the environme.
UN Secretary-General Aonio Guterres has announced that the transportation sector accous for about a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions, and 91% of the energy consumed in land, sea, and air transportation is still provided by fossil sources. He emphasized that despite the difficulties, humanity is able to reduce its dependence on climate-damaging fuels and create low-carbon and efficie transportation systems.
According to the United Nations report, more than half of the world’s population lives in cities today. Cities and metropolises form more than 60% of the world’s gross production, but they also accou for more than 70% of global carbon emissions. This challenge has been taken io consideration in the 11th goal of sustainable developme, i.e. “sustainable cities and communities”, and governmes have expanded iernational cooperation to realize it.
In 2025 and at the same time as Brazil’s chairmanship of the group, experts from the BRICS couries discussed the developme of sustainable transport infrastructure and the improveme of urban transport in specialized working group meetings. Brazil has particularly promoted the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and has set up a syhetic oil production unit for these fuels. This fuel is produced from recycled biological sources such as cooking oil and agricultural waste, and according to experts, it reduces carbon emissions by 80% compared to fossil fuels.
In the field of urban public transportation, couries have emphasized on the modernization and reduction of bus fleet emissions, the developme of subway lines, and the expansion of fast tram lines. Also, the issue of iernational financing for the implemeation of these projects, including the support of the new BRICS Developme Bank, has been taken io consideration.
In the final stateme of the 17th meeting, the member states reiterated their common view on this issue. The Rio de Janeiro Declaration states that members are committed to developing resilie and sustainable transport infrastructure and consider low-carbon urban transport esseial to create a healthier and livable environme. The stateme also emphasizes promoting the use of low-emission vehicles.
Experts believe that the realization of sustainable developme goals is not limited to governmes and citizens can also play an importa role. Occasional use of public transportation instead of a private car, choosing clean cars such as electric cars, replacing motorbikes or bicycles in the hot season, and walking short distances are among these actions.
Bicycle or motorcycle transportation in metropolitan cities where weather conditions allow can reduce traffic and emissions and shorten travel time. Public charging stations for electric motorcycles, scooters and light motorcycles are also expanding in many small cities around the world.
The global motorcycle market has grown significaly in rece years. Analysts have announced that global sales of motorcycles will reach 61.8 million units in 2024, which is a new record. Japan, Germany, India, China and America are the main producers in this field.
At the same time, motorcycle ehusiasts have not forgotten the past and collectors in differe parts of the world have started collecting rare examples. One of these unique collections is located in the city of Chelyabinsk, Russia, and it houses 115 types of motorcycles and two-wheeled vehicles, all of which are in working condition. Some of these examples are the only remaining models of their kind.
Among these motorcycles is the “Malyutka”, which was built in 1961 by Vladimir Sharapin, a self-taught builder from Chuvashia, with rudimeary parts, and became nationally famous for its successful design. The motorcycle, which was on display at the National Achievemes Exhibition in Moscow, is said to have once been ridden by Soviet Communist Party First Secretary Nikita Khrushchev.
In 1963, Leningrad engineers designed an attractive folding model that weighed 22.3 kg and reached a speed of 35 km/h. This device was made for geologists and it was possible to carry it in a small bag.
In this museum, a large collection of Soviet-era motorcycles and small motor vehicles from differe couries are also displayed. For example, the “Raja” model produced in India in the 1970s, which was redesigned based on a Japanese model and provided the possibility of carrying two passengers and cargo, is one of these examples.
The founder of this museum, Nikolai Audiv, started collecting motorcycles from his school days and now, together with a group of rare ehusiasts, he restores motorcycles, scooters and motor bikes with the help of photos, maps and archival documes. Worn out parts are rebuilt or replaced with new ones and in some cases even produced with 3D priing.
One of the group’s most difficult projects was the revival of a postal cargo motorcycle, of which only four prototypes were built, and only one survives. This two-speed motorcycle with reverse gear was designed to carry parcels up to 60 kg, but it was never mass-produced.
Sports motorcycles also have an importa place in this museum. Among the models that are specially designed for motor soccer game; In this game, there are four players on motorcycles and a goalkeeper on foot, and the big match ball is corolled by a protector on the fro wheel.
Despite the extensive changes in the motorcycle industry and the use of new technologies, experts believe that the ideas of the past can still inspire a new generation of inveors. Chelyabinsk ehusiasts are also planning to expand their collection and it is likely that they will build an environmeally friendly two-seater in the near future.
