Transport and space and social equity impacts

This introductory chapter, from Robin Hickman, Beatriz Mella Lira, Moshe Givoni and Karst Geurs, outlines the topic of transport, including transport systems and new transport projects, and the associated spatial and social impacts. Definitions of transport, space and equity are given, providing the framework for the chapters that follow. The context to the book is found in our cities, where we see increasing inequity, in income, activities and life opportunities. A focus on supporting economic growth, the financialisation of development, and overlooking of distributional issues, has led to very unequal lifestyles, including significantly unequal participation in activities across many cities globally. Transport systems and new transport projects play an important part in this, with different transport infrastructure leading to inequitable travel behaviours, such as certain socio-demographic groups using particular parts of the transport system and accessing particular activities and opportunities.