Travel demand management: options and implementation

Travel Demand Management (TDM) is the currently fashionable concept for reducing the impact of vehicular transport. TDM measures ration the use of private cars through modification of tripmaker behaviour and habits. The main task is to maximise the ridesharing/public transport rate and minimise the rate of drive-alone. TDM encourages the movement of people, not vehicles, within the available transport facility. This paper first briefly introduces the objectives and measures of TDM, the state of vehicle use and fuel and examines the implementation of TDM programs in a number of countries. Subsequently, restriction on vehicle movement/use of road space; carpooling; modifying peak period travel; telecommunication; walking and bicycling; increasing public transport use; enforcement; restraint on vehicle ownership; road pricing and technology are described. TDM measures in Melbourne are outlined. TDM is capable of having a significant impact on controlling the demand for drive alone travel. While each TDM measure has advantages and disadvantages, there is no single one capable of handling transport problems over a wide metropolitan area. Only an integrated program of the most effective measures can give a satisfactory result.