Canadian Government Executive - Volume 24 - Issue 02

Urban planners focused on moving cars and trucks around ( Mobility 1.0 ) until the city became paved over with roads and parking lots. Long commutes and traffic jams resulted. So the focus shifted to moving people, not vehicles ( Mobility 2.0 ). Public transportation schemes move people more efficiently. Yet few Canadians jump onto buses or trains. Service has been spotty. The commutes are no less soul-crushing. It’s time for Mobility 3.0 , a model that offers people more choice for getting around while enhancing quality of life. The amenities that make the system work have already been put to the test in cities around the world. Transit hubs are little villages that enable travel-mode changes Light rail moves lots of people in comfort and with speed Transit cards work across transport modes and merchants Low fares for very early commutes reduce peak demand High-volume bike parkades help cyclists access transit hubs Digital surge pricing reduces traffic in crowded urban zones Wide pathways allow for short-distance electric mobility Bike parkades double as maintenance stops for routine upkeep All major roads have protected bike lanes and wide walkways Central fitness parks promote active life- styles and health New buffers, signals, and sight lines boost intersection safety Underground parking and through-ways free up surface space 16 / Canadian Government Executive // March/April 2018