A Very Public Solution: Transport in the Dispersed City

Abstract

Unlike Europeans, most urban Australians live on far-flung suburban blocks rather than in high-density apartments. Most urban travel is to widespread suburban locations rather than to the city centre. It is often argued that fast, efficient public transport is impossible in our 'dispersed' cities. This book compares Melbourne's public transport system with the highly successful system in Toronto - a 'dispersed' city very like Melbourne with its suburban sprawl - and sheds new light on a century-old debate. This debate is particularly important now, as 'economic rationalists' move to privatise public transport in Australian cities. We can have European-style public transport, the author argues, if our different forms of public transport stop competing with each other and start competing with the car. (a)

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