Towards sustainable transport

Since first emerging in the 1990s, the concept of a "dependence" on the motorcar has gradually gained currency among theorists and practitioners. The systematic increase in the number of cars on the roads in many countries of the world has led to a seemingly irreversible situation. These days, however, growing concerns about energy supplies and sustainable development are actually stepping up the pressure to find ways of reversing that trend.

For some years now, researchers have been striving to analyse the causes of car dependence and to appraise policies and means of action in the light of their findings. They have set out to identify the population groups and zones most affected by the phenomenon; to explore the potential of alternative modes of transport other than the motorcar; to determine the interlinkages between urban development and motor transport; to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of various policies; and to develop likely future scenarios.

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