A Very Public Solution: Transport in the Dispersed CityWhy is public transport so poor in Australian cities? Why can't it be more like the fast, convenient systems in Europe? Unlike Europeans, most urban Australians live on far-flung suburban blocks rather than in high-density apartments. Most urban travel is to widespread suburban locations rather than to the city centre. It is often argued that fast, efficient public transport is impossible in our 'dispersed' cities. In A Very Public Solution, Paul Mees compares Melbourne's public transport system with the highly successful system in Toronto; a 'dispersed' city very like Melbourne with its suburban sprawl, and sheds new light on a century-old debate. This debate is particularly important now, as 'economic rationalists' move to privatise public transport in Australian cities. We can have European-style public transport, Mees argues, if our different forms of public transport stop competing with each other and start competing with the car. A Very Public Solution is the first serious work on public transport planning ever published in Australia. It is essential reading for everyone concerned with urban sustainability and our growing traffic problems. |
Contents
The CarDominated City and Its Discontents | 11 |
Figures | 32 |
The Traditional Response or How I Learned To Stop | 46 |
Copyright | |
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American argued Australian cities automobile Automobile Dependence bourne bus routes bus services buses Canberra car ownership cent chapter city centre co-ordination commuter compact city competition congestion decades decline deregulation economic electrified rail employment enterprise public transport environmental example fares figures free enterprise public freeway Greater Toronto Area increase inner city jitneys land-use Le Corbusier lines Melbourne and Toronto Melbourne's Melbourne/Toronto Metro Toronto Metropolitan Toronto middle suburbs MMBW modes municipal network effect Newman and Kenworthy passengers peak period population density problems public choice theory public trans public transport public transport patronage public transport service public transport systems railway residential result retailing road pricing service levels stations subsidies suburban subway Sydney timetables traffic transfers transport planning transport policy travel patterns trend trips United urban areas urban density urban form urban planning urban public transport urban transport vehicles Zurich
References to this book
The Earthscan Reader on World Transport Policy and Practice John Whitelegg,Gary Haq No preview available - 2003 |
Back on Track: Rethinking Transport Policy in Australia and New Zealand Philip G. Laird Limited preview - 2001 |