Abstract The change in emphasis of urban transport policy during the past 25 years is described. The concentration on identifying opportunities for investments in new transport capacity has given way to policies which emphasize the better management of existing facilities and the more equitable provision of transport services. The evolution of transport systems analysis tools is also briefly reviewed and the capabilities of these techniques as policy analysis aids are discussed. Four groups of techniques are discussed: land use‐activity allocation models, multistage aggregate demand models, disaggregate demand models, and household‐based activity models. It is concluded that while available analysis techniques can assist in evaluating a limited range of policy options their relevance is decreasing as the urban transport environment changes rapidly.