Richard Register states that cars are the number 1 single contributor of air pollution worldwide, and are ultimately an unsustainable means of mobility. The best way to discourage the use of cars is by encouraging the use of public transportation by making those means more attractive. To get people to kick their car addiction we must give them an alternative way of mobility that is clean, fast, on time, reliable, and more efficient than their current means of transportation. The top ten strategies I have outlined from the reading would best be implemented in small steps over time because small changes are easier to handle than everything at once. The best way to implement the tools and strategies outlined would be over the course of 10 years, consciously executing them as part of a comprehensive plan for a city’s future.
1 Consistently improve and in the Public transit systems. Constantly identifying ways to make systems more efficient and a better experience for users. Making the city mobile for all citizens.
2 Invest funds and tax revenues into Public Transportation. Switch the emphasis placed on roads and road maintenance to improving and enhancing the Public Transportation Systems because it provides a greater public good.
3 Buses and trolleys should have zero waiting time at intersections. Priority needs to be placed on the public transportation so the public will feel they are more reliable than their cars. Buses and Trolleys should have their own lanes, strictly reserved for them. The exclusion lanes will make the systems faster and more efficient.
4 Use the type of eco-tickets described in Chapter 4 of Green Urbanisms. The tickets are low-cost compared to automobiles and can be used on multiple types of transportation. There should be easy transfers from one transportation mode to another. Specialty services should be provided for night riders concerned with safety and children’s use.
5 Employ traffic calming measures used for both cities and residential areas. Tree placement, street narrowing, lower speed limit, and traffic circles can all calm traffic, reduce noise, and decrease accidents.
6 All modes of public transportation should reflect natural commuter patterns. Suburb to city, suburb to suburb, and low income neighborhood access to public transportation should all be addressed to insure equity and usefulness.
7 Park and Ride should be big and accommodating, with free or lost cost parking, safe and easy to use to encourage more people to use them and decrease traffic in the city.
8 Increase costs for car ownership. Higher fuel costs, road pricing, increasing meter parking, decreases parking spaces and regulate fees for entering city during certain times of day. These strategies will make the public transportation systems more attractive. Support car shares and car on demand services.
9 Accessibility. As the baby boomer population ages, they will become more dangerous behind the wheel. By increasing Public Transportation we will give older and younger people more freedom and independence from the automobile.
10 Build cities for people not cars. Hire locally, shop locally, rent and buy homes that are close to work, family and other personal activities. Empower foot transportation.