A word on the street

by Alan James

Pedestrianisation and traffic calming are among the most powerful forces of change to the character of urban spaces and as such plays a key role in the quality of urban life. Argues that while the concepts are generally fine, the execution of such schemes in the UK has left a lot to be desired, mainly because of the over-eagerness of design professionals to fill them with trivial detail. The visual qualities of most streets rest in the simple relationships between buildings, surfaces and the spaces they create, and successful design depends on a better understanding of this very simplicity and the simple treatment it demands. Illustrates these theories with pictorial evidence from UK cities.

A future for air transport?

by Arie N. Bleijenberg

Discusses the slump in the European air transport sector. A committee has been set up whose brief is to take it out of this crisis and back to growth. The committee recommends further liberalisation of the European air transport market; expansion of the capacity of airports and air traffic lanes; and cost reductions. Environmental features are not given priority in the report, as environmental measures increase costs. Argues that the fact that the committee has omitted to give a prominent place to the environment in its report makes it recommendations unrealistic and that the predictable tightening up of environmental policy looks set to lead to a permanent slump in the air transport section. Suggests some ideas for an integrated environmental policy and presents three scenarios for the future of air transport.

The role of parking in traffic calming

by Hartmutt H. Topp

Parking is considered a key issue in the push-and-pull approach towards better urban transport with fewer cars. Since parking management tends to increase the turnover of parking spaces, no scheme should be established without consideration of private spaces. Discusses the common instruments and their application in German cities with some emphasis on fees and enforcement. Before and after studies from Munich, Salzburg and Kaiserslautern are reported, as well as the zoning ordinances of some German cities to restrict new private parking spaces. It is concluded that parking concepts can effectively support other traffic calming measures only if they are applied city-wide and if they are part of a broader push-and-pull approach. Every city needs its specific approach.

The throttling of a transport system: Calcutta tramways

by Debasish Bhattacharyya

Depicts the decline of Calcutta to its present polluted condition through the history of the city's relationship with the Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC) which passed into the control of city authorities from British management over a century ago. CTC's decline from prosperity is a paradigm for the uncontrolled poisoning of Calcutta's air by toxic emissions and noise from traffic. Ninety-five per cent of Calcutta's road space is occupied by private vehicles which cater for the needs of only 5 per cent of commuters, while CTC's services have been progressively ended and downgraded by inept and corrupt municipal administrations. Protests against the abolition of CTC are now being made, but the company's future, and that of Calcutta itself, are equally uncertain.

The association between health and residential traffic densities

by John Whitelegg & Anthony C. Gatrell

Discusses the results of a survey of 731 households representing 1,791 individuals which show that there is a statistically significant relationship between the number of reported incidents of poor health and the volume of traffic passing the homes of those concerned. This was the case for five of the seven symptoms analysed. The study was conducted in the summer of 1992 in 15 urban areas of northern England and Scotland. Data on health were obtained from self-administered postal questionnaires, and those on traffic, from local authority vehicle counts. Statistical models were fitted to the data allowing the traffic effect to be quantified while controlling for smoking, housing conditions, age, sex, chronic health conditions, social class and distance from the road. Demonstrates a clear and quantifiable effect, even after allowing for the importance of other factors.

Automobile dependence in Bangkok: an international comparison with implications for planning policies

by Jeff Kenworthy

Discussions of traffic congestion and transport-related environmental problems now characterise Bangkok as the "Los Angeles of the East", in contrast to its historical identity as the "Venice of the East". Attempts to reveal the major policy factors behind Bangkok's horrendous traffic situation through an extensive comparison of Bangkok's land use and transport characteristics with other Asian, European, American and Australian cities. Bangkok has high vehicle ownership and use for its relatively low level of wealth and much new development is building in automobile dependence. Use of public transport is similar to that in European cities, though it is not high when compared with many other Asian cities. The environment for walking and cycling is very hostile and use of these modes is abnormally low for an Asian city.

The changing role of cycling within Chinese transport policy

by Maf Smith

Examines the role of cycling in China from a variety of perspectives. Government support of cycling institutionalised the bicycle in Chinese life. Ideological, geographical and pragmatic factors conspired to increase the popular appeal of cycling during the cultural revolution. Economic considerations favoured this mode of travel, as also did the limited alternative modes. Ideological shifts towards capitalism and market-driven forces are now increasingly apparent in China. Since automobiles are an established symbol of affluence in western societies, Chinese business people are eager to display their success by becoming car owners. The bicycle meanwhile is being marginalised. Chinese politicians, however, should reflect on the experience of neighbouring countries, like Taiwan and Indonesia, which embraced the automotive culture earlier in the century, and discovered that cars can create, as well as relieve, problems.

The Access Planner's Bookshelf:
Electronic Library and Discussion Forum

by Eric Britton

Introduces the Access Planner's Bookshelf, an open electronic library dedicated to providing easy access to new thinking on matters relating to transportation, equity and the environment.

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