MODERN TRANSPORT GEOGRAPHY. CHAPTER 3. TRANSPORT POLICY AND CONTROL

In this chapter reasons are identified to explain the increasing regulation of public freight and passenger transport services up to the 1970s and for world wide moves subsequently to deregulate and privatise transport. Four case-studies examine Jamaica's franchised bus system, the deregulation of United States domestic air services, the privatisation of British Airways and bus deregulation and privatisation in Britain. Particular attention is paid to bus deregulation in Britain with a comprehensive account of the effects of the Transport Acts of 1980 and 1985 on services, subsidies, passengers, routes and the bus- operating and bus-manufacturing industries. The use of minibuses is discussed. The author concludes that at first sight deregulation and privatisation have brought more vehicles, greater frequencies and in some cases cheaper fares. This has however caused increased congestion and traffic hazards. Most disturbing however is the reduction of services in less populated areas and at off-peak times. For the covering abstract of the book see IRRD 853629.