Reply: Prof. Karel Brookhuis

Abstract

Fast Transport on Request (FTR) is proposed in the Netherlands as an alternative relief, if not a real solution, to the strongly rising parking and congestions problems that this small country faces. The private car is steadfast favourite, however, and will be so in the (near) future, ceteris paribus (Steg, 1996, SCP, 2005). There is no ground to embrace the view that without particular, drastic changes a dramatic “modal shift” from car to Public Transport (PT) will occur. Within the category PT the bus is inferior to the train as far as comfort perception and travel preferences are concerned (Steg, 1996, 2003). FTR is not presented as a bus, but still… at first sight FTR seems not to be the remedy, yet, at least not without degrading the private car as a mode of transport.