Sustainable Transportation: The Key ToSustainable Cities

Abstract

Sustainable transportation is key to a sustainable city. Most indicators of sustainability reveal that the current patterns of urban travel are not sustainable. Thus the urban transportation systems must be modified and adapted before our cities can be made sustainable. Several approaches to achieving transportation sustainability are identified in this paper. These are grouped into technological, economic and behavioural, and planning and management approaches. Although there are definite viable and feasible options in each approach, their implementation requires strong political will and some not very popular decisions. Charging full costs of road travel to road users has been recommended as the most important and effective strategy for moving towards sustainable urban transportation systems. The task of achieving sustainable transportation systems in our cities is, however, not easy or effortless. The stakes are high as the unsustainable trends in road transportation pose grave danger to the very existence and protection of life on the planet. This is a global challenge and it is unwise to ignore it. Achieving sustainability in urban transportation will significantly enhance the sustainability of cities. In fact, it is emphasised that sustainable urban transportation system is a pre-requisite to a sustainable city.