Confronting a transport dilemma: a government perspective on Adelaide public transport

Accessibility is the primary objective for all forms of transport. Metropolitan Adelaide is a highly accessible city for most people but those in the outer suburbs are less well served. Neither the private car nor conventional public transport can ensure adequate and equitable levels of accessibility in all cases. It follows that a choice of means of travel including cycling and walking is essential. This is especially true for those who do not have the use of a car and cannot use conventional public transport. However, given the economic background in the foreseeable future, availability of finance will be the major determinant of any program of new transport initiatives for Adelaide. Whatever the thrust by Government the private car will be the dominant mode of transport in the metropolitan area well into the next century, so any strategy must emphasise the better use of the private car through management of demand (eg, ride sharing, limiting access, rationing parking, imposing access tolls and/or congestion pricing). These in turn will have the effect of increasing the role of other modes: walking, cycling and public transport. Urban development strategies must recognise their transport implications and seek to minimise travel or unnecessarily long trips which are both wasteful of energy and environmentally unsound.