Can a decoupling of traffic and economic growth be envisaged?
MADRE ; BERRI ; PAPON
Type de document
CHAPITRE D'OUVRAGE (CO)
Langue
anglais
Auteur
MADRE ; BERRI ; PAPON
Résumé / Abstract
Sustainable development means three conditions: general economic growth for the present, preservation of natural resources in the long term and social equity. Personal transportation in the developed countries is relying more and more on the private car. Until now, economic growth has lead to income growth, which allows car ownership increase, which in turn favours urban sprawl, which itself requires an increased car ownership. Eventually, car traffic growth has followed economic growth. If this form of transportation meets the first condition for sustainable development, the other two conditions are seriously challenged. Oil depletion and greenhouse effect are the main concerns for the long term. For the present, noise and local pollution hinder more the less well-off who cannot afford living elsewhere. Road accidents hit vulnerable users such as pedestrians and cyclists at a higher rate per kilometre travelled. Congestion and sprawl jeopardize public transport operation. Zoning of urban areas leads to social exclusion.
