COUNTERPOINT. GASOLINE CONSUMPTION AND CITIES: A REPLY

This is a reply to an article of the above title by P.W.G. Newman and J.R. Kenworthy published in the Winter 1989 issue of the Journal. The article notes the high consumption of gasoline in the United States cities as compared to consumption in European, Canadian, Australian, and Asian cities. They argue that the differences reflect land use patterns and the transportation system. They suggest a policy of minimizing gasoline consumption, and recommend a strategy of reurbanization (return to compact and more monocentric urban land use) and investment in urban rail transit. This paper points out that the above analysis is faulty, that the problems are wrongly diagnosed, and that the policy and planning recommendations are inapproriate and infeasible. The paper focuses on five issues: the wisdom of fuel use minimization in the context of efficient resource allocation; the validity of global comparisons; the impact of urban structure on travel; the potential for rail transit and modal choice; and the debate on the land impact of transit development. Each of these areas is discussed in some detail.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/4626214
• Authors:
  • Gordon, P
  • Richardson, H W
• Publication Date: 1989

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 342-346
• Serial:
  • Journal of the American Planning Association
  • Volume: 55
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: American Planning Association
  • ISSN: 0194-4363
  • Serial URL: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rjpa20/current

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cities; Fuel consumption; Impact studies; Land use; Mode choice; Public transit; Railroad transportation; Transportation planning; Transportation policy; Urban areas; Urban transportation
• Old TRIS Terms: Modal selection
• Subject Areas: Energy; Highways; Policy; Public Transportation; Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment; I96: Vehicle Operating Costs;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00486770
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 31 1989 12:00AM