A sustainable mobility system is a mode which:

• allows carrying out systems of basic transportation and complying with the needs for development emerging from people, companies and enterprises in a way which is consistent and secure for man’s health and the ecosystem’s survival, as well as promoting the concept of equity inside and among the generations to come;
• is economically accessible, works efficiently offering a multiple choice of transport means and supports the idea of competitive economy and well-balanced regional development;
• contains emissions and wastes in accordance with the capacity of our planet to absorb them, uses renewable resources or resources below the generation rates, and uses non-renewable resources in accordance or in shorter amount compared to the development rates foreseen by the renewable resources, minimizing the impact on the use of the earth as well as the generation of noise.

Every time we travel, we produce an impact on nature and ecosystem. In order to limit this impact, it is a good habit for an ethical/responsible traveler to pay attention in the choice of the means of transportation. It is sure that the “greenest” means are the muscle-powered vehicles, such as walking and biking...but it is for sure not always possible to move by foot or bike, especially if you have to move from one country to another!

There are also vehicles using a renewable source of energy for their propulsion but, first of all, it’s always better to choose public transports (such as busses, ferries and so on) every time is possible.

On the other hand, plane can be considered a public mean, but it’s also the most polluting!

As a conclusion, it’s important to be extremely careful in taking our decisions, considering that, generally, the public transport means positively contribute to the implementation of socio-environmental and economic sustainability of our society. The advantages deriving from the increase in mobility should be well-balanced and in harmony with socio-environmental costs generated by transport means.

Calculate your journeys’ environmental impact:

• http://www.ecopassenger.com/
• http://www.ecotransit.org/
• http://www.travelfootprint.org/
• http://travel.panda.org/en/
• http://www.reducemyfootprint.travel/

Useful links :

Trains:

• http://www.raileurope.com/index.html
• http://www.interrail.net/
• http://www.seat61.com/Europe.htm
• http://www.bahn.de

Busses:

• http://www.busstation.net/
• http://www.eurolines.com/

Ferries:

• http://www.ferrylines.com/en/europes-ferry-booking-portal/

Cycling routes:

• http://www.eurovelo6.org/
• http://www.northsea-cycle.com/
• http://randovelo.fr/randovelo/
• http://www.ironcurtaintrail.eu
• http://www.fahrradreisen.de/radwege/radwege.htm
• http://www.fahr-radwege.com/AuslandRadwege.htm
• http://bicicletta.bonavoglia.eu/europa.html
• http://www.radfahren.at/
• http://www.adventurecycling.org/

You can find further information under “sustainable mobility” and in the single forms of each “accommodation” .

To add new links, write an email to: mobility@ethicalsurfing.com