Mendrisio MobiliTI is an annual meeting which takes place this year for the sixth time. The conference aims at updating on worldwide advancements in terms of sustainable mobility, by presenting concrete examples of successful measures. In the past editions, after having started with a general overlook on sustainable mobility, we discussed the topic from the point of view of motivations and fields of transportation (companies in 2007, tourism 2006, education 2005, urban mobility 2004). This year on the contrary we decided to focus on different systems of collective transports, discussing about the most sustainable technologies, innovative methods for structuring and promoting it, and about collective mobility systems that are complementary to public transport.

Notwithstanding the vehicle used, public transport is surely a fundamental element for making our mobility more sustainable, because it optimizes the efficiency by transporting more than one person at the same time, with a resulting decrease of the space used (and hence less traffic), energy consumption and emissions. In general, we scarcely use public transports, preferring much more a lonely displacement by our car. It would be much preferable to constantly improve the modal split in favor of public transport.

That’s why Mendrisio MobiliTI on May 16 2008 offers the possibility to get acquainted with interesting experiences and proposals for making public transport and collective transport in general even more attractive and effective. It is an opportunity addressed to operators and experts in the mobility and transport field, to representatives of the public administration and all interested people. At the conference they can gather hints to be implemented in their own situation, having also the possibility to exchange ideas with other participants and with the international experts. I’m particularly honored to announce you the presence of the President of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) Roberto Cavalieri, and the President of the European Association for Battery, Hybrid and Fuel Cell Electric Road Vehicles (AVERE) Robert Stüssi. Together with a dozen of other speakers from all over Europe they will discuss the topic, chaired by the Head of Mobility Office of Canton Ticino, Mr. Claudio Blotti. The conference is kindly supported by several sponsors, that I warmly thank, and is patronized by the Department of Territory of Canton Ticino, Regio Insubrica and the Mendrisiotto and Basso Ceresio Regional Transport Board.

The Municipality of Mendrisio is honored to host this year again ad international conference which always proved to be relevant thanks to the speakers, and thanks to the involvement of the participants who don’t miss this meeting. Mendrisio for many years has been attentive to the topic of sustainable mobility and energy efficiency. In 2003 as first Ticino Municipality it obtained the national recognizion for this work, being awarded with the Label “EnergyCity”. Recently the label board decided to renew the Label. As a prologue to Mendrisio MobiliTI the will be a presentation window over this Label with the official handover to the Municipality. We are pleased to welcome you in the EnergyCity Mendrisio, to discover this Label and discuss together in a constructive manner about mobility, and public transports in particular, as a possible solution for making mobility more sustainable.