Sustainable transport systems are crucial for underpinning the economic performance and prosperity of nations. They are also critical for tackling global climate change and reducing local air pollution. This is particularly the case in the world’s urban areas.
This paper provides an overview of the available evidence on the link between the effectiveness of transport systems and economic, social and environmental performance. It starts with a short overview of the main trends in urban transport, and then covers the costs of the current model of urban development and transport use and the benefits of an alternative model. It discusses potential tipping points in transport mobility worldwide and barriers to scaling up positive change. Finally it concludes with an overview of international collaborative initiatives on urban transport and with some recommendations for policy-makers.