Liveable Cities need mobility!

Liveable cities is a term much in the news but what should it mean? For some it is the introduction of driverless cars or the total replacement of existing car fleets by electric vehicles. But for me it means space for people, access to green spaces, quality jobs, schools, hospitals and other services at an affordable cost. With the majority of the World’s population now, living in cities we no longer have the space or the need for individually owned private transport in the form of cars, vans and 2 wheelers such as scooters. What we do need is some joined up thinking by city planners, citizens groups, transport operators.  Some cities are already moving in the right direction.  Of course, we need a change in the way we all think about our personal mobility. When it comes to transport, it has been found that people want it at street level (why should people be forced underground to accommodate cars).  By far the most popular form of public transport is the tram or streetcar but there is a problem with the cost. This is where Ultra Light Rail (ULR) in all its guise’s comes to the rescue by reducing the cost of tramways/streetcar services by up to 60% these systems come within the grasp of almost every town or city.  Thus forming the backbone of an integrated network accessible by smartcard that incorporates, Public Transport, car sharing, bike sharing, taxis and walking offering a 24/7 service with access to all people.  Clive Hinchcliffe AIRO