Figures for public transport usage show a 25% decrease in the West Midlands in the last 25 years. In order to understand the reason for this a study is being carried out by the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive, Centro. Some possible causal factors are examined including a) price changes, b) population changes, c) changes in employment, d) residential and shopping patterns, e) service quality, provision and information and f) other changes in factors influencing the demand to travel. Projects aimed at increasing the use of public transport are listed. The `cost of journey' is found to be of particular importance to car users. The possibility of achieving the aims of the Integrated Transport Studies carried out in the 1980s is discussed. It is suggested that a number of central government policies are working against the objectives of the Integrated Transport Studies.
Samenvatting