Chapter 4: Transport and Land Use Instruments for A Better Environment

In this Chapter we consider the policy instruments which cities can use to improve both the local and global environment. These include land use planning, new infrastructure, management and regulation, information provision and pricing and fiscal instruments. We do not address those policy instruments which are the responsibility of national governments, such as emissions standards, fuel economy standards and fuel taxation; these have been considered in Chapter 3.

These policy instruments may well be effective in improving the environment, but they are not necessarily implemented solely for this purpose. Cities will have other objectives for their transport systems, and in some cases these may be in conflict. For example, transport strategies designed to enhance the urban economy may well have adverse impacts on the environment. We start, therefore, with a brief wider review of the problems which cities face, their resulting objectives, and the broad strategies which they might pursue in seeking to achieve them. The structure thus follows broadly Figure 1.4 in the Introduction.