Sustainable transportation and quality of life

Abstract

We consider the continuing increase in the use and density of automobiles (more vehicles with fewer people in them travelling greater distances over proportionally shorter roads) in relation to transportation sustainability and quality of life. The social dilemma perspective views this trend as the outcome of an unfortunate preference for short-term gains by car users at the cost of long-term losses to society. Approaches to measuring quality of life, its relation to sustainable transport alternatives, and the potential implications for informing policy, are considered.