This chapter provides a brief history of some major developments in land transport, especially road transport, and shows how methods of meeting transport needs have changed as people's lifestyles and social needs have changed. Actual and predicted global trends in motor vehicle numbers are given for 1930-90 and 1990-2030 respectively. For Great Britain, tables are given of: (1) the proportions of households with regular use of a car, by household structure, in 1992; and (2) the modal split of freight transport in 1993. The chapter mainly discusses some changes in Great Britain, associated with the motor vehicle, and links between social changes, growth in affluence, and changes in personal travel. The effects on demographic trends are considered. A mid-1980s analysis of travel data from several towns shows seven important trends related to the changing patterns of urban travel; a table of trip rates for different purposes is given. Between 1952 and 1993, travel by car and van has expanded rapidly, travel by bus and coach has approximately halved, travel by rail has changed relatively little, and travel by bicycle has fallen sharply. Road freight rose at the expense of rail freight. Congestion, traffic noise and vehicle emissions remain serious problems. For the covering abstract, see IRRD 892228.
Samenvatting