ABSTRACT
Transportation modes are ways of moving people, freight and information. This chapter focuses on passenger modes and matters related to moving transportation in the direction of greater sustainability. It explores the great variety of modes, differences between modes, and the great diversity that can exist even within a modal category. The chapter emphasizes how modes affect or interact with many factors, including: infrastructure—right(s) of way, sidewalks, paths, roads, rails, ports and airports; land use, urban design and the built environment; social, economic and cultural dimensions; travel and trip characteristics; functional characteristics and environmental considerations. It also focuses on aspects of transit related to infrastructure, hardware and operational strategies. The chapter also explores policy and planning issues related to transit and several other forms of public transportation. Transit can be an extremely space- and energy-efficient urban mode. The chapter discusses modes involve technical and technological matters.
