Conference “Towards Sustainable Urban Transport”

David Palma is a tenure-track lecturer at the Faculty of Economics and Business at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, after having held positions in Chile and England.

His main research area is the mathematical modelling of decision-making, primarily through the use and development of discrete and discrete-continuous econometric choice models, as well as working with machine learning methodologies and decision support systems. Additionally, he develops research software and is the co-creator of Apollo, a widely used R package for econometric analysis.

Alongside his academic work, he has completed numerous consultancy projects in the fields of demand estimation and marketing for the transport and food and beverage industries.

About his conference

An efficient urban transport system is a fundamental requirement for both a dynamic economy and equitable access to job and personal opportunities. Although the automobile revolutionised individual mobility from the mid-20th century with the promise of greater accessibility, its widespread use has led to a series of new challenges, including heavy congestion, pollution, and excessively sprawling cities that abandon the human scale.

Over recent decades, multiple solutions have been proposed to address these challenges. For example, electric and autonomous vehicles could reduce emissions, but they do not tackle the fundamental problem of the efficient use of urban space. Instead, an efficient transport system prioritises walking, cycling, and public transport, minimising car use and thereby promoting a more human and sustainable city.

Such a system requires reducing car use while promoting denser, human-scale urban development. The scientific literature has explored multiple ways of achieving this, with varying degrees of success. Some propose penalising car use through additional taxation, while others suggest rewarding active transport modes through subsidies.

Urban planning has also proposed friendlier city models, such as the 15-minute city or the electric bicycle city. Although there is still no single, fail-proof solution to our transport challenges, we do know that the answer does not lie in futuristic vehicles, but in public policies that promote a liveable, human-scale, and sustainable city.

• Date: April 21, 2026 
• Venue: Biblioteca Mestre Martí Tauler (Rubí)
• Time: 6:00 PM