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
|
