Modal Split, Efficiency and Public Policy

Abstract

Governments always pay keen attention to the demand for transport as a whole and the modal split among different forms of transport, whether or not they adopt a policy of extensive and strong intervention in the transport market. This is because the government is generally responsible for providing transport infrastructure such as roads, harbours, airports and, to varying degrees, railways. In transport planning, either at national or local level, modal split is regarded as a very important factor in determining the allocation of resources among the various methods of transport.

The author is grateful to Ian G. Heggie, former Director of Transport Studies Unit, University of Oxford, who read the first draft and made comments and suggestions.