A geography of road transport in cities

Abstract

This chapter presents and discusses a hierarchy of road transport modes for urban trips, their relevance, and the roles each can play in a sustainable urban system, giving special emphasis to public transport modes. To illustrate the need for planning flexible and varied systems, we then discuss the role of paratransit modes; in many countries, these scarcely regulated modes complement the supply of the formal public transport system and have special attributes that are highly valued by their users. Finally, as a case study, we introduce the Chilean shared taxi, a partially regulated mode that shares some of the fundamental characteristics of paratransit and plays an increasingly important role in many Chilean cities.