Inequality in Transport
Everyone needs transport to move around and to access everyday needs, but for each individual those needs are different, and they change over time and space: herein lie the seeds of inequalities in transport. The two main objectives of this book are to estimate the nature and scale of transport inequalities in Great Britain, and to determine how this impacts on people’s quality of life and their ability to participate in everyday activities. It also discusses the current situation as to whether the decisions made on investments and subsidies in transport are fair in terms of who are the beneficiaries, and it then outlines the means by which inequalities can and should be addressed.
… a must-read for anyone concerned with mobility and social well-being in the twenty-first century.
Rob Cervero, Professor Emeritus of City and Regional Planning, University of California at Berkeley
In Inequality in Transport, David Banister addresses these complex problems, first through an exploration of inequality, its nature, measurement and extent. He then links inequality and the transport sector through detailed analysis of the variations in daily and long-distance travel in Great Britain over a ten-year period. He then argues that there must be a much wider interpretation of inequality – one that links actual travel with measures of wellbeing and sustainability, recognising that these will change over time. In drawing his findings together, he concludes that there must be new thinking in transport policy and planning if transport inequalities are to be alleviated.