ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the most important characteristics of the demand for transport. It shows the main determinants of demand for transport and for individual transport modes—the price of transport, the level of incomes, the price of other commodities and various qualitative characteristics. The rate at which the quantity demanded changes in response to changes in any of the determining factors is described in terms of a series of elasticity concepts. Apart from the cost, there are many other characteristics affecting the demand for freight transport. In June 1958, the Traders Road Transport Association surveyed 4,837 operators of 'C' licenced vehicles, operating a total of 98,340 vehicles, a 9% sample of all 'C' licenced vehicles at the time. Passenger transport, like freight transport, can differ very substantially in service characteristics. It varies not only in cost, but also in speed, comfort, safety, convenience, flexibility and reliability.
