Announced by UITP at the United Nations in New York City (10 December 2025) World Public Transport Day will be a key part of the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport.
This annual and international celebration will show the critical role public transport plays in our everyday lives, in the success of our towns and cities, our economic prosperity and sustainable development.
More than 60 global partners have already signed up to launch the campaign in their countries and cities.
By powerfully showcasing the role public transport plays in so many lives across the world, we can continue to connect our cities. One day. Millions of journeys.
The global partners wanting to take part in the Day already include organisations in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Iceland, India, Italy, Latvia, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
More cities and regions are joining this list every day!
“We want to put people at the heart of public transport and make sure that the ways in which we move contribute to a large global conversation each year – in every region and every community. Our day of celebration will be powered by UITP’s 2000 members in 100 countries, across every mode, including shared and on-demand mobility solutions, and with messages playing out from Australia to the Americas, Europe to Africa, and everywhere in between. This first inaugural Day will also help to deliver against the goals set out by the UN for this Decade of Sustainable Transport, in particular empowering young people to be able to choose public transport as the perfect way to get around, each and every day. We will use this day to powerfully showcase the role public transport plays in so many lives across the world, driving economic growth and connecting our cities. One day. Millions of journeys.”
Mohamed Mezghani
UITP Secretary General
The strategic aim of World Public Transport Day is to raise awareness among those who call our cities home, and to encourage opinion leaders to further recognise the value and benefits of public transport.
It is about creating an annual global opportunity to spotlight and discuss public transport worldwide, with opportunities for local celebrations in cities, regions, or countries.
There will be a wide range of activities and ideas – from the simple to ambitious. Partners will share the campaign film and brand, organise pop-up moments, conferences, and festivities, and use the Day as a launch pad for local campaigns and advocacy activities.
There will also be a 24-hour rolling launch across global time zones, a central campaign website showing all the global activities, and a manifesto video will also be released.
The key campaign messages will showcase how public transport moves us all, about getting on as well as around – with work, with life, with each other. Public transport powers people and places, drives economic growth, and gives us access to jobs, education, culture, sport, and opportunities – making our cities cleaner, healthier and more connected along the way.
“We will work to place public transport at the heart of the UN Decade for Sustainable Transport and use this vital opportunity to urgently call for universal access to sustainable, low-carbon, and resilient mobility. World Public Transport Day will raise global awareness of the transformative role of public transport and help us to build the capacity of public transport professionals to deliver change for the better. Public transport should be the most obvious choice the way in which they need to move, regardless of where they live or who they are.”
Abimbola Akinajo
CEO of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority and UITP Vice President
In 2023, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution (78/148) committing it to ‘Strengthening the links between all modes of transport to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals’ which in turn established the plan to launch the United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport (2026 – 2035).
In Europe alone, public transport delivers almost 60 billion passenger journeys per year and every €1 of value created from public transport is linked to a further value creation of €4 in the total economy.
Investment in public transport creates 25% more jobs in the wider economy than the same level of investment in roads or highways would produce.
The online campaign hub (www.worldpublictransportday.com) and toolkit for World Public Transport Day will go live on 15 December 2025, culminating in the Day itself on 17 April 2026.
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