Abstract
This article lists the aspects of the way in which cities function, that make car restraint difficult. That makes quite a list: a whole series of obstacles to a reversal of the trends in urban car use. Some of those factors are rooted in strong basic trends like the increase in women participation, suburbanisation and a wider gap between work and living. According to the author, local authorities should watch out for a negative image of `anti-car'. Instead they should stress accessibility and objectively point to costs and problems. For the longer run they should prepare for a rather drastic overhaul of the entire land-use pattern, probably in the direction of more polynuclear metropolitan areas. (A)