TRANSPORTATION FOR PEOPLE IN MEDIUM-SIZED NORDIC URBAN AREAS

Nordkolt is a nordic study project dealing with future passenger traffic, principally public transport, in nordic urban areas of the order of size 20000 to 160000 inhabitants. Demands on the design of the traffic system should be based on the conditions, behaviour and wishes of the people. These demands should be weighed against the objectives and limited resources of communities. The mobility and safety of the weaker members of the community must be improved. This may demand the imposition of limitations on motor traffic, especially in the central parts of urban areas. The bus will probably become the dominant means of public transport. Organised forms of taxi and taxi-bus may be used to supplement the public transport and thus achieve travel times approaching those of the private car, but at a price which is higher than that for public transport. Organised sharing of transport costs by means of private car or bus-pooling may reduce the strain on the public transport system in times when private motor traffic is reduced as a result of increased running costs. In urban areas, traffic development may be planned to increase or decrease the traffic caused by private car usage. Studies in eight nordic urban areas have shown that reduced motor traffic improves conditions for pedestrians, cyclists and users of public transport, reduces accidents, diminishes noise and exhaust gases, improves town environments and lowers energy consumption. The total costs of traffic are also reduced. However, people who previously travelled by car find that their travelling conditions have deteriorated. Businesses may also encounter problems if the reduced usage of private cars becomes nationwide. (TRRL)