TRANSPORT STANDARD IN TOWNS AND RURAL AREAS

Roads are a community resource. They are essential for our living conditions. Public debate pays surprisingly little attention to the importance of road traffic for national production and economy, and concentrates instead on its negative consequences. In most cases, road transport offers the best transport standard. In Norway, over 80% of goods tonnage is transported by road. 90% of passenger transport is by road. In towns, however, 20% of journeys to work are on foot, and foot traffic is therefore as important as cycle traffic and public transport put together. About 80% of national roads have a paved surface at present; this will be raised to 90% in the next 8 years. Only 10% of roads have permitted axle loads of 10 tonnes; this will be raised to 40% by 1986. A large proportion of the road network is shared by vehicular, cycle and pedestrian traffic, and by local and fast long-distance traffic. To raise transport standards and at the same time reduce the negative consequences of road transport, separation and differentiation are the main tasks. The standard of public transport must be improved. The cost of motorways can be reduced by designing them for a lower speed. /TRRL/