PLANNING FOR MOBILITY: THE WISH AND THE REALITY

The author discusses the aims of transport planning for people who have a private car, whose mobility requires the provision of an adequate road network and parking facilities and for those without a car, who need adequate public transport, cycling and walking facilities. Urban trends are described, and data given on changes in population in towns and changes in employment. The spreading of initially very compact towns tends to make public transport less available or less convenient, while the private car continues to become more available despite the recession and increased fuel prices. Public transport ridership trends are given for a number of countries, taking account of suburbanisation, car ownership, level of service and fares. Results of studies have shown that growing car ownership will continue to increase the mobility gap. Planners should take a realistic view of such trends if policies are not to fail and resources to be wasted. Restraint of the private car can be improved in some areas by pricing, but this policy could drive people away from less attractive areas to such an extent that employment, shopping and other facilities decline markedly in that area. For public transport to remain an important feeder to city centres, the latter must retain their attractiveness. It is hoped that urban modelling will eventually be able to represent realistically the two-way link between transport provision and land use patterns. See IRRD 811216.