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Sustainable transportation – alternative perspectives and enduring challenges

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  • Tara L. Ramani
  • Josias Zietsman

Abstract

This paper provides a discussion centred on the notion of ‘sustainable transportation’ as a concept for transportation academics and practitioners. Sustainable transportation broadly reflects the principles of sustainable development in the transportation sector. As with the broader notion of sustainability, there are several alternative perspectives on the definition, application, and value of the concept. The paper discusses key topics pertaining to the notion of sustainable transportation and how it is currently understood and applied. These include (1) concepts related to sustainability/sustainable development as a whole, including conflicts between approaches and definitions of sustainability, (2) an exploration of sustainable transportation and how it is addressed by the transportation sector, and (3) the use of indicators to apply sustainability concepts. We then identify several challenges that complicate the progress towards sustainable transportation – including issues with clearly defining the term, cross-cutting nature of the problem, inherent conflicts in sustainability, the multitudes of frameworks and metrics available, the politics of sustainability, and alternative discourses that exist in transportation practice. Based on our own research in this area, we conclude with recommendations for an overarching framework to address these issues. We propose an approach that is context-specific, outcome-focused, and holistic to tackle the enduring challenges of sustainable transportation.

Suggested Citation

  • Tara L. Ramani & Josias Zietsman, 2016. "Sustainable transportation – alternative perspectives and enduring challenges," International Journal of Urban Sciences, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(3), pages 318-333, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:rjusxx:v:20:y:2016:i:3:p:318-333
    DOI: 10.1080/12265934.2016.1217784
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Common,Michael, 1995. "Sustainability and Policy," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521436052, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Carolina Ajeng & Tae-Hyoung Tommy Gim, 2018. "Analyzing on-Street Parking Duration and Demand in a Metropolitan City of a Developing Country: A Case Study of Yogyakarta City, Indonesia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-14, February.
    2. Yun-Myong Yi & Tae-Hyoung Tommy Gim, 2018. "What Makes an Old Market Sustainable? An Empirical Analysis on the Economic and Leisure Performances of Traditional Retail Markets in Seoul," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-22, May.
    3. Tae-Hyoung Tommy Gim, 2018. "An Analysis of the Relationship between Land Use and Weekend Travel: Focusing on the Internal Capture of Trips," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-17, February.

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