Comprising contributions from a range of experts, this book offers a critical commentary on the Blair government's sustainable transport policy and its implementation.

The volume is divided into three sections. The first section reviews links between sustainability and transport policy, and examines the political realities surrounding the delivery of a sustainable transport agenda. The second focuses on progress in policy implementation, evaluating the extent to which Labour’s own policy goals have been achieved. The final section looks at the likely trajectory of sustainable transport policy in the UK until 2010. The book includes a Foreword by David Begg, Chair of the Commission for Integrated Transport.

Firmly rooted within an appreciation of the politics of transport, this book will make a valuable contribution to debates about future policy.

Largely supportive of the British Government's 1998 White Paper, A New Deal for Transport, Docherty (urban studies, U. of Glasgow, UK), Shaw (geography and environment, U. of Aberdeen, UK), and their collaborators largely find UK government to have failed to adequately address needs for sustainable transport. They present 10 chapters that assess sustainable transport possibilities, Labour's inadequate progress towards those possibilities among different transport sectors, and possible future directions.
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"should be on every consultant’s, politician’s and planner’s desk and in the library of every institution where transport is seriously studied" (Logistic and Transport Focus, March 2004)

"This book outlines the political and implementation questions relating to transport policy delivery in the UK. Despite good intentions and a radical policy agenda this book reveals the Labour Government has failed to reduce the need to travel and to improve travel choice. Society has become more car dependent, levels of congestion and unreliability have increased, and the goal of sustainable transport has disappeared. The contributors to this book systematically document and assess the record of the Government on transport over the last six years."

--David Banister, University College London

"This book is essential reading for anyone with an interest in UK transport policy. It debunks, in forensic detail, the myth that the government has a coherent strategy for transport."

--Christian Wolmar, author of Broke Rails – How Privatisation Wrecked Britain’s Railways

"This book is valuable not only to transport geographers and the growing literature on sustainable transport, but to anyone interested in how government promises fail to come to fruition." (The Geographical Journal)

Comprising contributions from a range of experts, this volume offers a critical commentary on the government's sustainable transport policy.

Comprising contributions from a range of experts, this volume offers a critical commentary on the government's sustainable transport policy.

• A critical commentary on the Blair government's sustainable transport policy and its implementation.

• Firmly rooted in an appreciation of the politics of this controversial field.

• Experts contribute up-to-the-minute analyses of the key issues.

• Will inform debate over the future of transport policy.

• Includes a Foreword by David Begg, Chair of the Commission for Integrated Transport.

Iain Dochertyis a Research Fellow in the Department of Urban Studies at the University of Glasgow and an expert in urban governance, particularly the implementation of planning and transport policies. His previous publications include Making Tracks(1999), which looks at the transport planning system in major British cities.

Jon Shawis a Lecturer in the Department of Geography and Environment at the University of Aberdeen. His recent work has examined the privatization of British Rail and road building in England. He is the author of Competition, Regulation and the Privatisation of British Rail (2000) and co-editor of All Change: British Railway Privatisation(2000).

Preface.

Foreword.

Notes On Contributors.

List Of Abbreviations.

Part I: Policy And Politics:.

1. Policy, Politics And Sustainable Transport: The Nature Of Labour’s Dilemma: Iain Docherty (University Of Glasgow).

2. Devolution And Sustainable Transport: Austin Smyth (Ireland’s National Institute For Transport And Logistics).

3. Local Transport Planning Under Labour: Geoff Vigar And Dominic Stead (University Of Newcastle; Delft University Of Technology).

Part II: Progress In Policy Implementation:.

4. Roads And Traffic Congestion Policies: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back: William Walton (University Of Aberdeen).

5. A Railway Renaissance? Jon Shaw And John Farrington (Both At The University Of Aberdeen).

6. Light Rail And The London Underground: Richard Knowles And Peter White (University Of Salford; University Of Westminster).

7. A Thoroughbred In The Making? The Bus Industry Under Labour: John Preston (University Of Oxford).

8. Ubiquitous, Everyday Walking And Cycling: The Acid Test Of A Sustainable Transport Policy: Rodney Tolley (Staffordshire University).

9. Air Transport Policy: Reconciling Growth And Sustainability? Brian Graham (University Of Ulster).

Part III: The Future:.

10. Towards A Genuinely Sustainable Transport Agenda For The United Kingdom: Phil Goodwin (University College London).

Index