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Trends in commuting in England and Wales–becoming less sustainable?
Author(s) -
Banister Chris,
Gallent Nick
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
area
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.958
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1475-4762
pISSN - 0004-0894
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-4762.1998.tb00078.x
Subject(s) - trips architecture , census , journey to work , work (physics) , sustainable transport , geography , environmental planning , public transport , transport engineering , sustainability , sociology , ecology , engineering , demography , population , mechanical engineering , biology
Summary It is widely accepted that the nature and extent of commuting patterns worldwide represent a large slice of the overall environmental problems associated with transport use. There has been a long‐standing concern over the ‘congestion peaks’ derived from daily travel‐to‐work patterns, and a preoccupation with the ways in which greener modes of commuting might contribute to a more environmentally benign transport system. This article uses Census data to focus on commuting patterns in England and Wales, concluding that, despite recent moves towards promoting a more integrated and sustainable transport system, worrying trends persist that would seem to undermine this strategy. On a more positive note, the Census data also suggest that many shorter trips might potentially be converted to ‘greener modes’ walking or cycling–with substantial environmental benefits.