Travel reduction strategies: intentions and outcomes

Continuing growth in travel has led to concerns about the environment and sustainability, and hence the need to attempt to reduce travel, particularly by car. This paper considers the types of travel reduction strategy available, in terms of the implicit mechanisms of switching or substitution by which travel would be modified or reduced, and evaluates their potential impacts by means of four case studies in European cities. It is found that the various travel reduction strategies have had qualified success. The strategies to some extent achieve reduction in car travel, mainly through switching to other modes, although also through reduced travel distance. However, the scale of the reduction is relatively small and may be offset by new traffic generation. In addition, in some cases the objectives of the measures, although potentially having a travel reduction contribution, are not always aimed directly at travel reduction as such, and therefore may not be able to deliver the intended travel reduction. The paper concludes that the way forward would appear to lie in setting clear policy objectives and in assembling travel reduction measures into strategy packages, ensuring that when combined the measures are complementary towards the policy objectives of travel reduction.