Difficult Choices Ahead For America's Urban Transport Sector

Managing shifting socio-demographic, land-use and urbanization patterns will pose significant challenges in formulating sustainable transportation policies.

1 minute read

January 7, 2004, 1:00 PM PST

By Chris Steins @planetizen


In a paper prepared for the second international conference on the Future of Urban Transport, Robert Cervero of the Department of City and Regional Planning in Berkeley argues that "the automobile is a powerful symbol of wealth and prosperity and no amount of sustainable transport policy and plan-making, however well intended, is going to change this." As developing countries aspire to modernize and to bring prosperity to their people, it is only natural that automobile ownership and motorization will be viewed as one of the primary attributes of affluence. At present, the United States is the world's most car-dependent society, and as such leaves a "gargantuan" ecological footprint on the planet. How America manages the complex relationship of transportation systems and advanced economies will have implications for land-use and travel patterns around the globe. [Editor's note: This link is to the full working paper in PDF format (860 KB).]

Thanks to Zvi Leve

Saturday, August 23, 2003 in University Of California, Berkeley

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Blue and silver Amtrak train at small station.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train

The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.

July 3 - New Orleans City Business

Large spinning swing ride at Chicago's Navy Pier.

The Subversive Car-Free Guide to Trump's Great American Road Trip

Car-free ways to access Chicagoland’s best tourist attractions.

July 3 - Streetsblog Chicago

Aerial view of downtown San Antonio, Texas at night with rotating Tower of the Americas in foreground.

San Antonio and Austin are Fusing Into one Massive Megaregion

The region spanning the two central Texas cities is growing fast, posing challenges for local infrastructure and water supplies.

July 3 - Governing