Growth of traffic increasingly threatens the economic life of larger cities. To cope with these problems, The Netherland's government has developed a policy based on the concept of a sustainable society. In a sustainable society, all developments meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. In the design of transport systems, this means the traffic problems are not passed down to future generations. This calls for a new vision of transport, a new policy, a different balance, and the political will to change. This policy entails setting limits to the adverse effects of traffic and transport growth, limits on air pollution, limits on land use, limits on energy consumption, and limits on road hazards. Transport policy should also continue to ensure good access, but not necessarily for the private car. Vehicles use therefore has to be influenced. The overall issue involves curbing unnecessary car use and promoting public transport and the bicycle, while maintaining the existing road infrastructure adequately. (A)
Abstract