TOWARDS AREA-WIDE LOCAL TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT

Australian urban form is dominated by the continued growth of urban sprawl. Social inertia is likely to prevent rapid change to this form. Economic and environmental factors are reducing the desirability and affordability of second and subsequent cars, potentially resulting in mobility changing at a faster pace than land use patterns can adapt. For the next ten to fifteen years there will be increased focus on the development of transport systems which can ease the transition to urban forms less dependent on the private car. The application of state of the art information technology to the management of existing public transport systems, particularly bus systems, holds the promise of substantially improved flexibility of service provision at economically sustainable costs. Such a system is being trialed in Shellharbour, on the South Coast of NSW. (a) For the covering record of the conference, please refer to IRRD abstract number 849497.