Automobile dependence in cities: An international comparison of urban transport and land use patterns with implications for sustainability
- Murdoch Univ., Perth (Australia). Inst. for Science and Technology Policy
Cities around the world are subject to increasing levels of environmental impact from dependence on the automobile. In the highly auto-dependent cities of the US and Australia, this is manifested in problems such as urban sprawl and its destruction of prime farming land and natural landscapes, photochemical smog that can be primarily attributed to auto emissions. On top of the more local impacts of the automobile, the global dimension should not be forgotten. Perhaps the two most pressing issues in this regard are the oil problem and the greenhouse problem. A comparison of global cities over the period 1980 to 1990 reveals large differences in automobile dependence with implications for the future sustainability of cities in different countries. This study explores some of the underlying land use, transport, and economic reasons for these different transport patterns. It briefly reviews what the sustainability agenda means for transport and land use patterns in cities and suggests a suite of targets or goals for sustainability by which cities might measure their current directions and plans.
- OSTI ID:
- 571670
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Impact Assessment Review, Vol. 16, Issue 4-6; Other Information: PBD: Jul-Nov 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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