Usually right up there with the Americans as addicted to cars and laying out their cities to accommodate them more than people, the Australians seem to be considering a change of heart. With less space and more problems, why are Scots not ahead of them in integrated transport thinking?
Like many places throughout the world, Australian cities’ transport systems are dominated by the private car. The car has offered unprecedented flexibility and reach in our personal mobility and dominated the form and lifestyles in cities since the mid 20th century. They can be convenient and versatile and fast, and now account for about 90 per cent of the total urban passenger movements (up from around 40 per cent in the late 1940s). In Australia there are about 17m cars. Worldwide, we are up there in terms of cars per capita at around 7 cars for every 10 people.
But over the last two decades or so, we have heard increasing calls for reducing automobile dependency. Like here, and here!
I’m on board with this – it seems to me that a more balanced transport system is the key to the future livability, economic success and social inclusiveness…
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