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Colleagues

My bleat for some guidance on a definition of Active Transport has thrown up some interesting points - and a right turn into the use of the word 'mobility'.

Apologies, Eric, if my question appeared to be an elephant trap. I have just returned from India and observed first hand what elephants can do (evidenced by the busy-ness of the attendants armed with wheelbarrows, shovels and brooms on the walk up to Amber Fort, Jaipur), hence I wouldn't wish being in a trap with an elephant on anyone!

That aside, I was really casting about for a type of consensus [Wistful thinking. Ed] since there were different viewpoints expressed in my discussions with local colleagues.

Thankyou for highlighting Todd Litman's definition; and thanks Todd for responding personally and others for joining the discussion by ether (yet another grey definition).

David gave us insight to the meaning of the 'tyranny of distance' in Australia (the New Zealand case - where the phrase is still often heard by Pakeha - may be somewhat different as the Maori may well have felt the same after the Great Migration) and Eric laments the 'tyranny of words' which may be another form of the 'tyranny of grey' of definitions as highlighted by Alice's viewpoint.

Starting with Eric's original offering with the 'none of which with motors' clause. This seems reasonable. In our discussions we have bandied about words such as 'self-transportee' and 'transporter' with the idea that the propulsive force is provided by the self-transportee. Several modes have bobbed up from people in the course of this exchange and in discussions. Hence we have cycling, walking, manual wheelchairs, skating, skateboarding, running, push scooters (the original unmotorized variety), skiing, canoeing and rowing.

Passive transport is where the propulsive force is provided by the transporter. Hence horses, camels, oxen, donkeys, cars, buses, taxis, motorbikes, trains, ferries and trams are plonked in this category.

This definition of passive transport would of course include motorised wheelchairs: all of the above require the use of muscles by someone to make the contraption move and control it. It is interesting that you say Alice: 'Any way of letting me into the definition without letting in the undesirables' as this raises the dilemma of definitions for a purpose and the ability of our society to cope with groups outside the 'normal'. Thankfully our viewpoint of normal is being broadened magnificently as time progresses. Hence I believe that the day is fast approaching, in our society at least, where people like you Alice will not need to cast about to be included in a definition so that your travel (and other) needs will be considered as of right.

So to definitions for a purpose. There are those who are endeavouring to effect travel behaviour change through a lessening of dependence on the private car and an increase in other modes. Some include public transport in a definition of active transport; whether through ignorance (unlikely) or as a means to procure funding by having a neat banner embrace the intent (far more likely as we all have to deal with politicians). Travel by public transport is now regarded as a mixed mode form; mostly because of improving modelling capabilities.

There are those who endeavour to design travel spaces for cyclists and for those whose primary travel geography is apart from that used by cars, buses, trucks, vans, motorbikes and the like. Often these cyclists, pedestrians, skaters, people in wheelchairs (is there such a word as wheelchairers Alice?) are labelled 'vulnerable road users'. Could this be another case of 'definition for a purpose'? Possibly; do we need to distinguish between active and passive transport in this instance especially since motorbike riders can easily be labelled 'vulnerable'?

Should we then refer to those in motorised wheelchairs and those using power-assisted bicycles as 'motor-dependent'?

Stuart Clement
Transport Systems Centre
University of South Australia
GPO Box 2471
Adelaide SA 5001
Ph: +61 (0)8 8302 1862
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