Because of their own unpleasant experiences of public transport, people often refuse to travel on buses and trains. This paper presents a comprehensive approach to considering how to improve the `green' image of public transport through its planning and, more important, its operation. In the UK, total travel increased by over 23% from 1985-95, but the use of public transport during that period at best rose only slightly and often fell. The Government's policy of deregulation, privatisation and competition did not provide a public transport system that people wanted to use, even though they became more environmentally aware. The following key issues need to be addressed if public transport is to contribute adequately to sustainable development: (1) the cost of public transport needs to compete effectively with the cost of car travel; (2) the environmental benefits of public transport need to be realised and emphasised; and (3) passenger needs should be considered more fully. A comprehensive approach should clearly define the aims of public transport, set objectives for sustainable development that balance these aims and provide an operational framework, set appropriate targets, deliver and publicise benefits to passengers, and continually monitor feedback from passengers and performance against targets.
Abstract