Comprising contributions from a range of experts, this volume offers a critical commentary on the government's sustainable transport policy. A critical commentary on the Blair government's sustainable transport policy and its implementation. Firmly rooted in an appreciation of the politics of this controversial field. Experts contribute up-to-the-minute analyses of the key issues. Will inform debate over the future of transport policy. Includes a Foreword by David Begg, Chair of the Commission for Integrated Transport.

This title was first published in 2003. The UK transport White Paper "A New Deal for Transport" and new Transport Acts for England, Wales and Scotland have indicated and defined the future direction and policy agenda of national governments. The need for integrated transport raises key policy issues, among which are: the importance of sustainability; and the integration of transport policy with other areas of public policy, such as social exclusion and health. The idea of this direction in policy has implications for the changing nature of work, traveller information, interchange and public transport, freight distribution and the use of new technology. This volume also examines key areas of policy and regulation, which are developing as a result of the White Paper and the new Transport Acts. The volume brings together leading UK academics in the field of transport studies to discuss and reflect on these issues, and the state of transport policy in the UK within this new and developing policy framework.

A critical overview of the nature, evolution and contemporary challenges of transport policy and planning at the national and local scale while expanding on procedural mechanisms and forging much-needed links with the related discipline of spatial planning.

The Strategic Road Network (SRN) is a crucial part of the national transport system. The Department for Transport predicts traffic levels on the SRN to rise by 46% by 2040. The network has suffered from inconsistent funding and changes in Government policy over the past two decades. Road users deserve clarity on how the network can be part of a high quality integrated transport system. If the traffic forecasts are correct, the Government will need to increase investment in the road network substantially during the next decade. This requires new long-term funding streams. A consensus would be required to introduce any road user charging scheme across the SRN and the many issues involved would have to be resolved. The DfT must develop a transparent system of road planning as part of a wider national transport strategy. The DfT's National Transport Model (NTM) should be subject to wider scrutiny and DfT should commission integrated passenger and freight plans for strategic transport routes, rather than looking at one mode of transport in isolation. The Committee is not convinced by the case for establishing the Highways Agency as a Government owned company (GoCo). The benefits seem achievable through better management of the current agency and its relationship with the DfT. If the Highways Agency becomes a GoCo, it will need a strong system of scrutiny. The current proposals for this are inadequate. The new scrutiny body will need the power of a full regulatory authority.

Plate tectonics - Earthquakes and volcanoes - Weathering and slopes - Glaciation - Coasts - Deserts - Weather and climate - Soils - Biogepgraphy - Population - Urbanisation - Farming and food supply - Rural land use - Energy resources - Manufacturing industries - Transport and interdependence - World development.

This book shows that transport matters. Comprising a series of highly accessible chapters written by respected experts, it reviews key transport issues and explains how and why effective and efficient transport is fundamental to successfully addressing all manner of public policy goals. Contributors explore how we ‘do’ transport, as a result of the technologies available to us and the cultures surrounding how we use them, and examine how this has significant social, economic and environmental consequences. They also provide key recommendations for how we could do things differently to bring about a happier, healthier and more economically secure future for all of us.

Brand new case studies.Strong links to Geography television programmes.Shows real people in real places.Integrates print and television resources.