 |
 |
One observation; two questions. The observation. In Australia I frequently came across the term "the tyranny of distance" - it always stuck me as being an essential difference between aborginal people who were sojourners and those who came as prisoners or colonialists. But without a Boeing I would not have reached Australia, so I make no claim to righteousness. And without powered transport CS Lewis would not have been Surprised by Joy, because Joy would have stayed in the USA. Questions. 1. Where do horses (and other ridden beasts) and boats/ships with sails but no motor fit? 2. This discussion seems to me to take a post-modern view of transport (and logistics) - has anyone explicitly offered a post modern view of mobility and global supply chains? David Stewart-David ----- Original Message ----- From: "EcoPlan, Paris" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Friday, February 11, 2005 1:45 PM Subject: Re: [UTSG] Definition of Active Transport Stuart, While I suspect this may be an elephant trap Stuart and that you may indeed have something rather more in mind on this, let me leap into the void joyfully anyway. 'Active Transport' = anything that needs your muscles, balance, energy, breath and profound good sense to move ahead. No motor. So clearly: walking, wheel chairs, skating, boarding, scootering, and cycling in any of a number of possible positions -- none of which with motors. Well, that's just me off the top of my head. But I can do better for you. Let's see what a more authoritative source has to offer on this: our much appreciated Todd Litman at www.vtpi.org in his on-line encyclopedia: Nonmotorized Transportation (also known as Active Transportation and Human Powered Transportation) includes Walking, Bicycling, Small-Wheeled Transport (skates, skateboards, push scooters and hand carts) and Wheelchair travel. These modes provide both recreation (they are an end in themselves) and transportation (they provide access to goods and activities), although users may consider a particular trip to serve both objectives. For example, some people will choose to walk or bicycle rather than drive because they enjoy the activity, although it takes longer. There are many specific ways to improve nonmotorized transportation: * Improved sidewalks, crosswalks, paths and bikelanes. * Correcting specific roadway hazards to nonmotorized transport. * Improved Nonmotorized Facility Management and Maintenance, including reducing conflicts between users, and maintaining cleanliness. * Universal Design (transportation systems that accommodate people with disabilities and other special needs). * Develop pedestrian oriented land use and building design (New Urbanism). * Increase road and path Connectivity, with special nonmotorized shortcuts, such as paths between cul-de-sac heads and mid-block pedestrian links. * Street furniture (e.g., benches) and design features (e.g., human-scale street lights). * Traffic Calming, Speed Reductions, Vehicle Restrictions and Road Space Reallocation. * Safety education, law enforcement and encouragement programs. * Integration with transit (Bike/Transit Integration and Transit Oriented Development). * Bicycle Parking. * Address Security Concerns of pedestrians and cyclists. * Create a Multi-Modal Access Guide, which includes maps and other information on how to walk and cycle to a particular destination. Todd also draws our attention to the words of C.S. Lewis on this subject in "Surprised by Joy" "I number it among my blessings that my father had no car, while yet most of my friends had, and sometimes took me for a drive. This meant that all these distant objects could be visited just enough to clothe them with memories, and not impossible desires, while yet they remained ordinarily as inaccessible as the Moon. The deadly power of rushing about wherever I pleased had not been given me. I measured distances by the standard of man, man walking on his two feet, not by the standard of the internal combustion engine. I had not been allowed to deflower the very idea of distance; in return I possessed 'infinite riches' in what would have been to a motorist 'a little room.' The truest and most horrible claim made for modern transport is that it 'annihilates space.' It does. It annihilates one of the most glorious gifts we have been given. It is a vile inflation which lowers the value of distance, so that a modern boy travels a hundred miles with less sense of liberation and pilgrimage and adventure than his grandfather got from travelling ten. Of course, if a man hates space and wants it to be annihilated, that is another matter. Why not creep into his coffin at once? There is little enough space there." Finally, I will copy this as well to our friends in the New Mobility Cafe who may well have more and better to offer. PS. If you go to http://www.vtpi.org/tdm/tdm25.htm, you will find clickable references on most of the above. Eric Britton The New Mobility Agenda is at http://newmobility.org <http://newmobility.org/> To call free via Skype.com. Click here. <callto://ericbritton/> (callto://ericbritton) Free video/voice conferencing: http://newmobilitypartners.org <http://newmobilitypartners.org/> ---------------------- -----Original Message----- From: Stuart Clement [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: 09 February 2005 01:41 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [UTSG] Definition of Active Transport Colleagues There is a degree of confusion flitting round and through the heads of a few of us Down Under characters over the meaning of the phrase 'Active Transport'. Without delving into the finer points of the nuances of its interpretation in our discussions, we would appreciate any tips on its earliest reference and even, if anyone is so inclined, a usable definition with explanation from a personal perspective. Thanks in advance Dr Stuart Clement Transport Systems Centre University of South Australia