Chapter 2: The Urban Transport System

This chapter describes the present condition of the urban transportation system. As noted in the introductory chapter, the major global trend is rising car ownership and use. Associated with increased car ownership is the decline in use of public transport and non-motorised modes, increased traffic congestion, increased environmental damages, and long-term shifts in urban form. These general trends differ across countries and world regions, depending upon historical context, per capita income and stage of economic development, as well as transportation investment, regulation and pricing policies. It is of course impossible to cover these global trends in a comprehensive manner within one chapter; therefore we discuss broad trends across developed and developing countries, focusing on key illustrative examples.