Ride with pride, UPPER and #PrideMonth2024

UPPER seeks to spearhead a public transport revolution by involving users in the overall mobility decision chain and bringing to life an attractive, efficient, reliable, safe, inclusive, and affordable public transport system that leaves no one behind as outlined in the Mobility as a Right (MaaR) concept.

June is Pride Month, a global celebration of the history, resilience, and achievements of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. It brings together people from all walks of life to honour inclusivity, diversity, respect, and equality.

Indeed, inclusion for everybody is something the UPPER project is approaching comprehensively, which also considers gender and sexuality and the resulting experiences of public transport.

"The 'Mobility as a Right concept' is one of the pillars of the UPPER project. A strategic vision aims at defining inclusive mobility where all citizens are considered, regardless of their capacities or status in society. We truly believe cities must provide inclusive and safe public transport for all" – Francesco Iacorossi, UPPER’s Dissemination Task Leader and Project Coordinator at EUROCITIES.

Last year along with project partner Polis Network we reflected on some of the recent progress, challenges remaining, and the need for open and honest dialogue. The need for safe, accessible, equitable mobility is clearer than ever, however, despite recent progress, LGBTQIA+ communities and individuals (hereby also referred to as queer) still face discrimination in everyday urban public spaces, including public transport.

True to the spirit of Pride Month, POLIS is again focusing on the barriers to queer-inclusive mobility, the best practices put forward by its members, and the importance of addressing the 'queer deficit' in mobility planning. We are happy to be part of it through this new campaign POLIS x Pride 2024: Safe by design

UPPER Living Lab Rome through its public transport operator ATAC has also launched a local campaign to celebrate Pride month branding with the pride flag's colours on an entire train of the metro A line. The initiative will run until the end of the summer.

More info here 'Pride, treno dell'inclusività sulla metro A'

Watch the ATAC video here

Here at UPPER, you are free to love whoever you love and be whoever you truly are!

 

photo @RomaCapitale