In recent years in the Netherlands multi-modal passenger transport has been foremost in the minds of researchers and policy-makers alike. In recent studies the situation surrounding data and data analyses (CBS studies included) has been presented, together with information drawn from various publications. The studies gave rise to two main questions, the first of which is: should more attention be given to the subject in the form of research? The second question that arises is: should the policy directed at multi-modality be intensified and, if so, what direction? This article examines multi-modal transport from the point of view of the environment, the whole purpose being to stimulate discussion on the matter. The conclusion may be drawn that the contribution of additional policies for multi-modal transport to the reduction of environmental problems will be limited, unless the context will change dramatically. The contribution of such policies to the improvement of livability and spatial quality will probably exceed the contribution to the reduction in emissions. The limited contribution to the reduction in emissions does not mean that additional policies are useless: if benefits of (a package of) measures exceed costs and no alternative - more cost-effective - measures can be found, such policies for multi-modal transport may be desired. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting