Free Essay On Transportation Planning

Issues of transport planning have been under inquiry and discourse by a multidisciplinary array of researchers while attempting to forecast, plan and model transport behaviors. Most researches are focused on the description and understanding of optimal solutions which are designed for communities using quantitative models. The problem with this approach is that quantitative models are used to describe reality. While the models used may be complex and advanced, they are still not capable of capturing the critical “human element”. This, however, is possible with more subjective qualitative methods. Qualitative methods are often overlooked because of the methodological problems and technicalities that they lead to.
The major way in which transport planning can be more subjective is by using geography as an interdisciplinary science. This is because geography provides a more holistic look on local characteristics such as the needs of pedestrians and riders in an urban setting. Use of geography may be achieved by using environmental psychology and space syntax analysis to inform planning decisions. Community oriented recommendations can provide knowledge on the kind of transport potential a particular party of a city has. Other ways in which qualitative methods may be involved in the transportation planning process is by use of researches that include interviews, focus groups, participant-observer techniques etc. these can help gather community level information that may be analyzed through both qualitative and quantitative means. However, this should be done while, as much as possible, attempting to eliminate the threat of excessive subjective interpretation. Travel behavior researchers need to accept qualitative methods and obtain adequate training so as to produce accurate results. By using proper methods, the human aspect of transport may be incorporated in decision-making.