Transport planning and management and its implications in Chinese cities

The aims of this chapter are to review the history of transport development in China, and then examine the status quo of transport planning and management, as well as critically discuss the current transport strategies that have been implemented and their implications for China. The research analyses show that although an increasing amount has been invested in the transport infrastructure and the transport network has been extended, while some effective transport strategies have also been rolled out, traffic issues still exist. In addition, it has also been found that we need to develop more context-specific strategies to mitigate traffic-related issues in China, and not just directly replicate those used in developed countries. Finally, it is argued that resolving unsustainable transport issues should not just rely on government-oriented transport planning and management strategies, but should also involve educating people through a bottom-up approach in order to improve transport users’ perceptions and ultimately facilitate more environmentally friendly and compliant travel behaviour in China.