Beyond the Automobile

Three approaches are suggested for finding ways to supplant automobile travel with transit. Although the advantages of mass transit are well known in terms of reduced congestion and environmental impacts, more people continue to travel by car and choose to live in places that do not have adequate population density to sustain a transit system. One approach is to study demand for transit in places similar to the United States, such as Great Britain or Australia. The tension between the need for low fares and good service is described. Model bus cities such as Singapore and Curitiba are discussed. Works that compare similar cities with suburban sprawl where bus systems and transit have succeeded are discussed. Technological solutions include automated flexible “personal” transit and new energy sources to replace the internal combustion engine and render automobile travel less detrimental to the environment.