WHITHER TRANSPORT PLANNING

THIS PAPER LOOKS AT THE WAYS IN WHICH A CHANGE OF EMPHASIS COULD BE ACHIEVED IN TRANSPORT PLANNING, AS PUT FORWARD IN THE GLC DEVELOPMENT PLAN, UNDER THREE MAIN HEADINGS: PUBLIC TRANSPORT, ROADS AND TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT AND LAND USE. TOO OFTEN PUBLIC TRANSPORT HAS BEEN TREATED AS A POOR RELATION. IN ORDER TO IMPROVE BUS SERVICES IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO USE BUS LANES WHERE APPROPRIATE AND BUS-ONLY STREETS. IF THE PRESENT LONDON STAFF SHORTAGE IS OVERCOME THEIR RELIABILITY SHOULD IMPROVE. BUS FLEETS SHOULD BE MODERNISED AND SERVICES TAILORED TO FIT PRESENT DEMAND AND EXPLOIT NEW MARKETS. THE RAIL SYSTEMS IN URBAN AREAS SHOULD BE RENEWED, REPLACED AND MODERNISED. SINCE THE LATE FIFTIES AND EARLY SIXTIES, WHEN ROAD CONSTRUCTION WAS QUOTED AS THE SOLUTION TO ALL OUR PROBLEMS, ATTITUDES HAVE CHANGED. SOCIETY SHOULD CHOOSE HOW FAR IT WISHES TO GO WITH THE MOTOR VEHICLE, DESIGN THE ROAD SYSTEM TO FIT THESE IDEAS AND THEN EXERCISE THE APPROPRIATE RESTRAINTS ON VEHICLE USE. VARIOUS METHODS OF TRAFFIC RESTRAINT IN URBAN AREAS HAVE BEEN SUGGESTED, INCLUDING PARKING CONTROL, AND LICENCES TO USE PARTICULAR AREAS. THE LATTER SCHEME SEEMS LIKELY TO BE SUCCESSFUL. THE CO-ORDINATION OF TRANSPORT AND LAND USE, A VERY COMPLEX PROBLEM, IS BRIEFLY DISCUSSED.