ABSTRACT
Urban living is the norm for more than half of humanity. Even in one of the most spread-out countries, the United States, three-quarters of the population reside in cities and suburbs. Residents in these locations share a common denominator: proximity to destinations. For the past century, public policies in most countries have steered residents to use cars, even for short trips. The cumulative impact of transport planning practices to support cars carries many costs. The costs of auto-dependence have long been recognized by transport professionals and have become topics of concern for decision-makers and the public. In communities everywhere, the first step is to recognize the startling differences between what exists and what is desired. Emerging solutions would need to be available to users across urban regions, offer multiple modes of travel, and require tens of millions of vehicles. Human behavior and attitudes regarding transport have been firmly ingrained for decades and would need to be adapted.
