Commentary from The Commons

This terrific example of responsible adaptive behavior is proof positive that we have done very well to set the theme for this first Earth Car Free Day as: "No project is too small". And in this case we cannot resist making a few comments on why we find this a particularly interesting initiative for study and reflection.

In our view, what Ms. Leigh has developed here turns out to be far closer to a prototype of the 'mobility solutions' of the sustainable 21st century transportation system, than the all the old familiar ideas that most of us tend to trot out when we try to think of how to configure transportation in a city "without cars" (i.e., 'car-lite' as someone has so unfortunately put it.) The hallmark of the old thinking about transport in cities is given away by the name which is often used for it: "mass transit". Let's think about that one together for a moment.

The "mass" for whom this kind of transportation arrangements was/is being configured is, in a phrase, "everybody else other than the very fine people who are planning, deciding and getting paid all the money to make this thing work". A true 19th century concept, perhaps good enough in its time, closer to bizarre where not irrelevant in most places in the closing years of the 20th century, and, truth to tell, altogether absurd, conspiratorial and anti-democratic in the new century which has just dawned.

People, it turns out, are not "masses". Or at least they should not treated as such, unless of course you want to have a mob on your hands (and are prepared to suffer the consequences). They are in fact thinking, capable individuals and when it is time for them to go somewhere it works out that they have very individual requirements: specific times to go, to get there, desired conditions of transit, physical abilities which effect their access, ability to pay, etc. Which if course is why they buy and drive around in cars whenever they can.

Now this gives us a valuable clue here, and Ms. Leigh's bit of last minute adaptive behavior provides us with a few more. Her approach (a) makes better use of the existing transportation infrastructure, (b) provides a solution which is available today (and not, say, in 15 years when we finally get that metro built), (c) is affordable, (d) flexible, (e) is based on a nexus of individual decisions based on their real time assessments of their own needs, (f) neighborly, (g) non-corporarist, and (h) provides considerable environment and resource improvements than the 'old way' of getting around in Perth (solo driver car).

Welcome to a terrific example of sustainable transportation in the 21st century.

More has to follow. Comments invited.

"Sustainable transportation: The nose of the camel".

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