RURAL TRANSPORT NEED: SOME PRELIMINARY THOUGHTS ON THE ROLE OF ADAPTION

For many years rural transport provision has been viewed with concern. In response to the perceived "rural transport problem", many pieces of legislation have been enacted; a considerable volume of research has been generated; non-conventional transport services have been tried; and public transport services have been increasingly subsidised. Much emphasis has been placed on the concept of need. Despite this background few local authorities have adopted policies based on rigorous needs criteria, while many have become disillusioned with the concept, not least associated with the lack of public response when new services have been provided. It would appear that what need there is, is a very small scale in per capita terms. Empirical evidence from rural Norfolk suggests that when rural areas are viewed in a static manner this does not seem an unreasonable conclusion. However, such a conceptual framework ignores the dynamic nature of the rural transport problem. A more meaningful insight can only come from a dynamic perspective. In this light preliminary thoughts on the role of adaptation are forwarded. (Author/TRRL)

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was presented at the Institute of British Geographers Annual Conference, University of Leeds, January 1985.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Oxford

  Transport Studies Unit, 11 Bevington Road
  Oxford,   United Kingdom  OX2 6NB
• Authors:
  • McKenzie, R P
• Publication Date: 0

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 18 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bus transportation; Buses; Demand; Financing; Legislation; Local government agencies; Mathematical analysis; Motor vehicles; Needs assessment; Ownership; Paratransit services; Planning; Policy; Public transit; Rural areas; Transportation; Transportation planning; Transportation policy; Travel demand
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 6471: Analysis (math); 1272: Bus; 285: Demand (econ); 244: Financing; 1556: Legislation; 192: Local authority; 1128: Paratransit; 143: Planning; 173: Policy; 744: Public transport; 328: Rural area; 1155: Transport; 8119: United Kingdom; 315: Vehicle ownership
• Subject Areas: Planning and Forecasting; Policy; Transportation (General); I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00399633
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Report/Paper Numbers: TSU 281 Monograph
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 30 1985 12:00AM