We want to change how young people in Bucharest think about public transport. We want to break the stereotypes, “too slow”, “inconvenient”, “only if you can't afford a car or a taxi”, and look at it as it really is, with what works and what could be better.
The project is part of ECOALITY, Youth and Local Authorities Together for Gender and Climate Justice, run under the European Commission's DEAR Programme and implemented in partnership with Bucharest City Hall. It is aimed at young people aged 18 to 35 in Bucharest, especially those who mostly travel by private car.
Why public transport
Public transport is a climate justice solution, because it cuts urban pollution, and a question of fair access to the city. A central theme of the campaign is women's safety on public transport: we want to bring these problems into the open and show the practical solutions that already exist.
How it works
- From 1 September
An open conversation about transport
The online campaign brings comfort, efficiency and safety on public transport into public discussion, in language young people use.
- 12-18 October
The 7-day challenge
Young people in Bucharest are invited to share their stories from public transport: good, bad, funny or sad, as long as they are real. The stories go out on FTR's channels as clips, voice notes or messages. A prize draw awards 5 public transport passes valid for 12 months.
- Late October
From informal to formal discussion
Starting from the stories collected, we hold a round table with the local authority, decision makers, transport operators, civil society and citizens, to agree concrete proposals for better public transport in Bucharest.
What we aim for
- At least 3,000 young people informed about why fighting pollution matters, through the online campaign.
- At least 60 young people taking part directly in the 7-day challenge.
- At least 50 young people, with at least 5 experts and decision makers, at the round table.
- At least 5 proposed measures for cleaner air in Bucharest.
After the campaign
One project will not change how everyone sees public transport, but it can start the change. We want to begin a civic movement that carries on after the project ends and to grow a community that chooses public transport because it wants to. The topic stays on FTR's advocacy agenda for youth and climate policy.