Transport for suburbia: beyond the automobile age

Abstract

In this book, the author sets out to show how planning and politics are essential to the development of high quality public transport systems in the suburbs and the rural areas beyond them. It explains that Switzerland runs effective public transport from low density suburbs with more than 300 residents or jobs, a philosophy contrary to that found in English-speaking countries where low density is given as a reason for not providing effective public transport. Switzerland also considers the recreational requirements of the population and provides transport to hiking trails. It is suggested that to increase the density of suburbs by rebuilding them might take 100 years, a time span too long to respond to concerns fuel availability and climate change. It is suggested that by providing a complete substitute for the car, high quality public transport networks also promote increased walking, and in some cases, cycling. A range of very different urban regions that have managed to provide effective public transport in low-density areas is described. In these cases, public transport imitates the flexibility of the car by knitting different routes and modes into a single, multi-modal network. Transfers between routes are virtually effortless. A critical role in bringing these changes about is ascribed to citizens and their elected representatives.