General travel management policy
Copenhagen, Denmark
Transport management
Abstract
At the scale of a large city, traffic problems and related environmental
problems can be addressed using several different approaches.
The city of Copenhagen has adopted an overall travel management
policy to improve the quality of transport, the urban environment
and city life in general. The policy involves computerised traffic
management, the development of public transportation, a cycle
network and a parking policy. Particularly noteworthy is the fact
that environmental criteria are taken into account in the development
of the travel management policy. The success of Copenhagen's travel
management policy may be judged against the scale of its road
infrastructure network which is no larger now than it was in 1970,
and traffic volume, measured in terms of kilometres driven per
year which has reduced by some 10 % below the 1970 level.
Policy Goals
The goals of the travel management policy in Copenhagen are:
- limitation of noise and air pollution
- promotion of a balanced development of the different transport
modes by favouring the use of bicycles and public transport
- safeguarding accessibility and the mixed social and economic
functions of the historical city centre
- protection of the residential districts from negative traffic
impacts
- reduction of traffic congestion
Present Stage of Development
The general travel management policy is successfully being implemented.
Further steps are being considered, including the creation of
a ring road protecting the city centre; the construction of a
tramway line of 20 km managed by a special financial management
company; the establishment of a combined traffic and environmental
plan; and the integration of environmental data in traffic management
tools.
Background Information
Copenhagen and its conurbation form a large proportion of the
Danish population. The city experiences significant travel-related
problems, essentially due to home-to-work movements originating
in the periphery. In addition, the medieval centre is experiencing
significant 'bottleneck' problems.
Since the abolition of the 'Greater Copenhagen Council' travel
related problems are addressed at the level of the municipality
within a framework of informal cooperation with the two other
counties of the conurbation.
Implementation
Strategy
The policy is organised around the following strategic objectives:
introduction of computerised traffic management to minimise time
spent travelling; development of public transport and a bicycle
network; and introduction of hierarchical parking systems.
Activities
The computerised traffic management involves the management of
traffic primarily on the existing road network; controlling traffic
flows through zoning; and providing parking areas at the entrances
to the city. In combination these traffic management elements
have enabled the abandonment of planned projects for new infrastructure.
The development of public transportation has involved the improvement
of the existing bus network through measures including reserved
lanes and traffic light priority, rather than construction of
major public transport infrastructure. The development of the
cycle network involves the construction of approximately 300 km
of cycle paths, including fast cycle lanes.
Finally, the new parking policy is based on a concept of a hierarchy
of priorities as follows:
- first priority to facilitating traffic flow, especially for
buses
- second priority to deliveries
- third priority to short stay parking
- least priority to long stay parking - within this last category
priority is given to residents
Partners
The general travel management policy has been developed at the
municipal level, with informal cooperation with the two counties
of the conurbation, although the policy is implemented principally
by the municipality. The policy is defined in plans for a period
of four years with each new phase submitted to public evaluation,
thus facilitating public involvement. Within the context of the
general travel management policy the bus company prepares plans
for public transport for the entire conurbation.
Analysis
Results
Overall, 30% of home to work trips in the summer season are by
bicycle, compared to 37% by public transport and 30% by private
car. As a reflection of this modal split car traffic measured
in terms of kilometres driven per year has reduced by some 10%
below the 1970 level.
Barriers and Conflicts
The separate management of transport planning and town planning
policies constitutes the principal limitation to the implementation
of Copenhagen's general travel management policy. Greater integration
is required in order to attain sustainability objectives.
Lessons Learned
The following lessons may be identified from the Copenhagen approach:
- Traffic management in an urban area is possible without extending
the road infrastructure (the Copenhagen network is approximately
at the same level now as in 1970).
- The approach shows that good results can be achieved with modest
means by favouring bicycles and bus transportation.
- The financial revenue from the parking system can also be used
to subsidise other transport modes.
Further information
Svend Bremer
City of Copenhagen
Road Division
Tel: +45 33 66 4500
Fax: +45 33 66 7101
Acknowledgement
The original text for this project summary was developed by Beture
Setame (September, 1994). Revision by EURONET, 1996.
© EURONET/ICLEI Consortium, 1996. See Impressum.