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Blog - May 2010

Transport for London Report 2

Transport for London has published its comprehensive annual report about (of course) transport in London.  A noteworthy phenomenon is that the shift to public transport persists. In 2008 this mode was responsible for 41% of all journey stages (car 37%), compared with 30% in 1993 (car 46%).  This is the reverse of the historic trend whereby people have switched to cars as incomes rise.  London has a growing population – 6.8m in 1993, 7.6m now - which means that density increases and commercially viable catchment areas shrink, so that people need to travel less far to find what they need.  The car becomes less essential and can be given up as public transport improves.  Parking availability is also a real constraint on car use, as is congestion charging in the central zone.   

Dense metropolises can be comparatively ‘green’ in part because of lower use of oil-based private transport.  London is moving in the right direction.

Posted on 04 of May 2010

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