THE OBJECTIVE OF URBAN PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Urban public transport is linked with, influences, and is influenced by related societal factors including economics, ecology, socioeconomics, politics and technology. Public transit can ensure mobility of the entire population, including the poor and handicapped; permits commuter to reach city centers and assure their viability; contributes to quality of life; and conserves scarce resources such as land and energy. This article lists the demands to be met by urban transit and ways it can be fostered. It is concluded that (1) there must be an allocation of tasks between public and private transport; (2) public transit services must be adapted to changing structures and needs; (3) attractiveness of public transit must be improved to draw motorists from their automobiles; (4) economic position of public transit must be guaranteed; (5) collaboration between transit enterprises must be increased in the passengers' interest; and (6) cooperation between all transit operators must be achieved to optimize solutions to mutual problems.