CITY PASSENGER TRAVEL; YESTERDAY, TODAY, TOMORROW

This paper briefly examines the history and growth of the modern city with particular emphasis on the period from the industrial revolution. Two observations are made: the industrial revolution changed the very nature of the city, and developments in mass transport enabled cities to expand their size but with the city centre still serving as the principal commercial and entertainment areas. In more recent times the private motor car has led to a decline in the need for mass public transport and is also leading to a decline in the importance of the city centre. The result is that public transport which operates along fixed routes and fixed times is now uneconomic to operate and largely inefficient, requiring massive injections of public funds to maintain operations. The introduction of small hired electric vehicles offers a future solution for the problems of urban transport. These would provide a high degree of flexibility and personal convenience without the burden of the high cost associated with current public transport or the high pollution and space usage associated with private cars. These vehicles would also provide the desirable side benefits of increased safety and energy conservation. (TRRL)

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Papers from the 9th IRF World Meeting, Roads Into the Future--Urban Transportation--TS6, held at Stockholm, June 1-5, 1981.
• Corporate Authors:

  Svenska Vaegfoereningens Foerlags AB

  P.O. Box 27115
  S-102 52 Stockholm,   Sweden 

  Svenska Vaegfoereningens Foerlags AB

  P.O. Box 27115
  S-102 52 Stockholm,   Sweden 
• Authors:
  • Loder, B
• Publication Date: 1981

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 149-162
• Serial:
  • Publication of: Svenska Vaegfoereningen
  • Publisher: Svenska Vaegfoereningens Foerlags AB

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobile travel; Conferences; Economic efficiency; Electric vehicles; Energy conservation; Energy consumption; Fixed routes; Flexibility; Forecasting; Government funding; Hiring policies; History; Motor vehicles; Needs assessment; Operating costs; Ownership; Public transit; Safety; Urban areas; Urban transportation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Convenience; Efficiency; Hire
• Old TRIS Terms: Car hire; Fixed route transit
• ITRD Terms: 8525: Conference; 285: Demand (econ); 1282: Electric vehicle; 212: Energy conservation; 132: Forecast; 9096: History; 228: Leasing; 744: Public transport; 1665: Safety; 313: Urban area; 315: Vehicle ownership
• Subject Areas: Economics; Energy; Environment; Finance; Highways; History; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00348413
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 30 1982 12:00AM