Artificial ignorance and public transport policy : the mismatch between the search for technical excellence and policy deficiency in transport.

Some impressive technical work is being done in applying artificial intelligence to transport systems, much of it driven by those who have a commercial interest in extending and prolonging the car-based society. "Artificial ignorance" results from the willingness of politicians to allow themselves to be deflected from the rational pursuit of strategic goals, by ideology, vested interest or public acceptability. In the transport field, this can result in policy deficiency which gives insufficient recognition to the potential contribution of public transport, especially rail, and puts sustainable mobility itself at risk.