Concerns about urban problems and opinions about the effectiveness of transport policies

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Concerns about urban problems and opinions about
the effectiveness of transport policies
Dr Dominic Stead OTB Research Institute for
Housing, Urban and Mobility Studies Delft
University of Technology The Netherlands d.stead_at_
tudelft.nl http//www.otb.tudelft.nl
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Concerns about urban problems in Europe (1999)
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concerns are increasing (1999-1994)
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Public opinion carrots more effective than
sticks
lower perceived effectiveness higher actual
effectiveness? lower implementation/operating
costs more public resistance

• investments
• regulations
• charges

• Perceived effectiveness of policies to solve
  traffic problems (EU12), 1991

Perceived effectiveness of policies to solve
traffic problems (EU15), 1999
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Concerns about urban problems have little bearing
on opinions about policy effectiveness
Concerns about urban problems
Perceived effectiveness of policies to solve
traffic problems (EU15), 1999
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General remarks

• greatest concerns about urban problems where
  transport growth is highest
• perceptions about policy effectiveness is quite
  similar across all countries
• public opinion surveys investments are more
  effective in solving traffic problems than
  regulations or economic instruments
• empirical data investments are often less
  effective in solving traffic problems and
  reducing congestion
• investments cost more than regulations or
  economic instruments (and low levels of public
  support for investment via taxation)
• public support for measures can change before and
  after implementation (e.g. congestion charging,
  London)

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Fuel saving and public acceptability of measures
Source EU REFLEX project (SAVE II programme)
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Policy packaging

• possible synergies between policies
• investments funded through economic instruments
• regulations in support of investments
• measures can be made more publicly acceptable if
  they are part of a package of push and pull
  measures

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• end