This publication contains reports from Germany (by A Priebs and A Dittrich-Wesbuer), the USA (by S Handy), Italy (by C. Sessa) and the UK (by D Banister), each giving a perspective on the interaction between transport and spatial policies in their respective countries. The summary to the meeting indicates that the tensions between transport policies and spatial policies concerns the interrelationship between urban form or urban development and transport. a joint objective of transport and spatial policies shoould be to minimise mobility for a given level of accessibility. The advantages of nearness are discussed. The principles of urban transport policy have been translated into taxation and pricing policies on the one hand and regulatory policies on the other, which aim at increasing the density or compactness of cities, coupled with measures to increase technical capacity in order to reduce the environmental costs of private car use. The monocentric and polycentric city are described and the role and nature of subcentres in old and new urban areas is considered. Dispersal of job adds to the complexity of commuting travel. Spatial policies and their impact on transport policy, and vice versa, are discussed. Futher study of policies to reduce urban transport and private car use are likely to increase urban land rents which may induce unintended polycentricity of urban areas and an increase in leisure and commuting travel. The costs of public transport may also increase. Taxation of newly-developed land and subsidy for housing around urban centres could reduce decentralisation. The integration of planning across jurisdictions is also considered important.
Abstract