Introduction: the transport and land use policy cycle

This chapter provides a high-level overview of how transport and land use are linked. It presents a Transport and Land-Use Policy Cycle to help illustrate foundational concepts from the field and provides a framework for the contents of the book. The policy cycle recognizes that transport and land-use systems are products of societies’ cultures and values, as implemented through policies and practices. The resulting level of accessibility provided by a transport and land-use system impacts the environment, economy, and society. These outcomes are experienced by people, which may ultimately change a society’s culture and values (completing the cycle). Recognizing the dynamic and complex nature of these systems, the chapter emphasizes the need to develop transport and land-use systems thoughtfully, from a holistic perspective, in the face of rapid technological change. The final part of the chapter describes the contents of the three main sections of the book: history and theory, methods and policy interventions, and emerging trends in transport and land-use policy and practice.