Urban transportation :trends, challenges and opportunities

Abstract

Urban travel demand has been continuously growing in both developed and developing countries. Overall population growth and increasing urbanization have led to rapid growth of large cities, which are crippled by the sudden rise in travel demand. The supply of transport infrastructure and services, by comparison, has lagged far behind demand. Land prices and rental rates also escalate in city centers, which force establishments and housing to move to the city peripherals and thus further increasing everyday commuting. Certain developed countries have been quite successful in keeping traffic demands in checks. Some policies also appear as unfriendly towards private vehicle