Life Without Cars

On a nerdy note, in transport circles there's a generally accepted rule of thumb called the 40:40:20 rule. It says that of current car journeys 40% could be easily and in many case immediatly transferred to non-car means (bus/train/walk/cycle), 40% could be changed to non-car but this is more difficult and the remaining 20% need cars.

True. On a note of pedantry, this, and especially '40% could be changed to non-car but this is more difficult and 20% need cars' reflects current journey patterns. If the need to travel is reduced further (as it can be), these numbers change even more in favour of the sustainable modes.

That's why the failure of regional and national government to aim economic and transport strategy emphatically at reducing the need to travel is even more galling.