This paper discusses some possibilities for reducing urban traffic, using integrated short-term and long-term transport planning and town planning strategies. Although immediate, radical measures are needed to regulate traffic patterns and reduce traffic volume, this is only treating symptoms. It is necessary also to address causes. Peak period traffic imposes the heaviest strain on the urban environment; it is dominated by commuter traffic, especially commuter cars which occupy the streets and vast parking areas. The numbers of cars must be reduced, and their passengers transferred to public transport. Public transport must be expanded and improved, and the street network must be adapted to it. Comprehensive, coordinated regional public transport and land use planning strategies are needed for metropolitan areas and their surroundings. Reducing traffic by restrictions is a short-term policy, which needs to be complemented by a long-term strategy to remove traffic-generating functions from towns. Some town service functions are indispensable, and typically depend on face-to-face contacts with customers and users. However, most production and manufacturing, and considerable amounts of their management and administration, could be removed from towns and relocated elsewhere, thus significantly reducing urban-traffic, especially peak traffic.
Samenvatting