Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
down, even at the steepest ascents. The seats on top were very breezy and comfortable.
Well up out of the dust, their occupants could enjoy the scenery at their leisure, or critically
discuss the merits of the straining team. Naturally such places were in great demand and
the competition for them was keen, everyone seeking as the first end in life to secure a
seat on the coach for himself and to leave it to his child after him. By the rule of the
coach a man could leave his seat to who he wished, but on the other hand there were so
many accidents by which it might at any time be wholly lost. For all that they were
so easy, the seats were very insecure, and at every sudden jolt of the coach persons
were slipping out of them and falling to the ground, where they were instantly compelled
to take hold of the rope and help to drag the coach on which they had before ridden so
pleasantly. It was naturally regarded as a terrible misfortune to lose one's seat, and the
apprehension that this might happen to them or their friends was a constant cloud upon
the happiness of those who rode.
There are perhaps great parallels here with the current system of motorisation. The car users,
for example in SUVs or high-specification cars, are usually very aware of the privileged position
they occupy, and this seems attractive to many in society internationally. Those driving in
congested conditions often wish that others would get public transport or walk, or not make
the journey at that particular time - but of course not themselves. The manner in which we
have designed our cities, and indeed set up society, often perpetuates the motor car system.
Yet, for all but the most ardent drivers, there are large concerns over the problems of climate
change, of what will happen when the oil supplies dwindle or become even more expensive,
of the problems in extracting non-conventional oil supplies, the huge toll in traffic accidents,
and the impacts of traffic on the city.
The development and discussion of alternative scenarios is a very necessary first step in
the transition to more sustainable transport futures. Yet, without the achievement of different
travel behaviours, this is likely to result in wasted effort. This, of course, takes us beyond the
pioneering thinking of Kahn, Wack, Schwartz and Van der Heijden, who comment that
scenarios are used as a method to improve thinking around future options. They go no further
than this, and indeed advise against choosing preferable futures. Although improved thinking
around future possibilities is certainly required in transport, it is also useful to consider how
we can most effectively change practice and delivery.
We discuss this problem at three levels. The first two gain only cursory commentary, and
are being developed elsewhere as emerging research areas in transport. The third issue is
considered in more detail, but again requires much more research and consideration than has
yet been developed. The first area is to further understand why people travel and the role of
transport in society; second is to consider the implications of different transport scenarios for
the practice of transport planning, modelling and appraisal; and third, the means of governance
in transport. All of these are seen as emerging research areas in transport, as very necessary
to the achievement of different scenarios in transport, but they remain 'in development', as
open-ended and under-researched. They are ripe for much further research, discussion and
debate, building on the initial efforts being made.
As an early step, it is useful if we can further understand the social and cultural
'embeddedness' of the private car for many people, and perhaps why others are less reliant
on the car. The use of the car is associated with both instrumental and affective emotions
(which are often interlinked), and it is these latter issues that are perhaps the least well
understood in empirical terms. In all likelihood, they will be critical factors in the design of
future successful transport systems. This means that the journey is designed to improve the
