TRANSIT REGULATION: IMPROVE IT, DECREASE IT OR ELIMINATE IT?

It is pointed out that a serious problem in improving urban transportation is the lack of understanding of the complex economic, social and technical relationships, and it is shown that urban passenger transport is one of the activities in which free market cannot be applied. Although discussions of regulation in urban transportation often imply that they are relevant to all cities and all modes, actually they focus on paratransit only and are therefore relevant only to small cities and low density areas, with the exception of taxis applicable to all cities. Revision of some regulatory practices is desirable; in some areas revision should mean a decrease of regulation, in others an improvement and increase in regulation. The relevance of European experience in this area is noted. The goal of public regulation in not to maximize profits of operators but to ensure adequate public service. Transportation systems which meet these goals and are economically sound are best achieved by full coordination among modes, particularly between private and public transportation, as well as by closer coordination of regulation with short and long-range planning for communities and their transportation.