Reversing Car Dependency
Summary and Conclusions
Managing the growth of urban traffic is vital for improving the liveability of our cities. This report examines how governments can encourage citizens to use alternatives to private cars in order to reduce car dependency, regardless of how they are powered or who drives them. The report analyses fiscal policies and other instruments for managing urban traffic and correcting current policy biases that favour automobile travel over more sustainable and affordable transport options. It also reviews international experience in co-ordinating transport planning with land-use development and in allocating space to walking and cycling in order to make transport more efficient and streets less congested.
Policy Insights
- Review the street space and urban land share allocated to cars.
- Use road space allocation to proactively manage traffic.
- Abolish minimum parking space requirements for new developments.
- Consider road pricing to drive more efficient use of scarce road space and urban land.
- Use parking rates to discourage excessive driving.
- End employer-paid parking subsidies.
- Ensure that quality alternatives to private cars are convenient and efficient.
- Work towards integrated planning of transport and land-use.
- Review land-use regulations that hinder compact development patterns.
| Date of Publication | 25 February 2021 |
|---|---|
| Number of Pages | 41 |
| OECD iLibrary Link | https://doi.org/10.1787/bebe3b6e-en |
| Document |
 reversing-car-dependency.pdf |
| Publication Type | Roundtable Report |
| Publisher | OECD/ITF |