Bus, Train, Ropeway: Safe, Safer, The Safest?

Summary on Bus, Train, ropeway: safe, safer, the safest? A safety comparison between urban transportation modes As urban populations grow, ensuring the safety of public transportation becomes increasingly vital. This study compares the safety of three urban transport modes—buses, trains, and ropeways—based on European data from Germany, France, Austria, and Switzerland. The methodology involves identifying key influencing factors such as human error, technical failures, and environmental conditions. The research draws on data from 2015 to 2022, sourced from Eurostat, national statistical offices, and the International Organization for Transportation by Rope (OITAF). These sources provide consistent and comparable statistics on passenger volumes, injuries, and fatalities. To enable a meaningful comparison, the study calculates the number of injuries and fatalities per 100 million passengers for each transport mode. This normalization accounts for differences in usage volume and allows for cross-country and cross-mode analysis. The study also distinguishes between types of vehicles (e.g., standard buses, high-speed trains, gondolas) and considers infrastructure and operational differences. By applying this structured, data-driven approach, the study aims to provide a robust foundation for evaluating transport safety and supporting evidence-based decisions in urban mobility planning. The study concludes that while all modes are generally safe, integrating ropeways into urban transport networks can significantly enhance overall safety and resilience.