<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2963" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE>@page Section1 {size: 21.0cm 842.0pt; margin: 2.0cm 76.55pt 2.0cm 3.0cm; } P.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman" } LI.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman" } DIV.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman" } A:link { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } SPAN.MsoHyperlink { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } A:visited { COLOR: purple; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } SPAN.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { COLOR: purple; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } SPAN.emailstyle17 { FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: black; FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; LETTER-SPACING: 0pt; TEXT-DECORATION: none } SPAN.emailstyle18 { FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: black; FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; TEXT-DECORATION: none } SPAN.EmailStyle19 { FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: black; FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; TEXT-DECORATION: none } DIV.Section1 { page: Section1 } </STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY vlink=purple link=blue> <DIV align=left>Sounds rather like what our esteemed founder Sir Colin said in 1964, in "Traffic in Towns" (and again in "I told you so" more recently).</DIV> <DIV align=left> </DIV> <DIV align=left>Alan</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV align=left>-- Alan Howes Associate Transport Planner Colin Buchanan 4 St Colme Street Edinburgh      EH3 6AA Scotland email:  <A title=mailto:alan.howes@cbuchanan.co.uk href="mailto:alan.howes@cbuchanan.co.uk">alan.howes@cbuchanan.co.uk</A> tel:      (0)131 226 4693 (switchboard)            (0)7952 464335  (mobile) fax:     (0)131 220 0232 www: <A>http:/www.cbuchanan.co.uk/</A> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader align=left> <HR> From: sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org [mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org] On Behalf Of Eric Britton Sent: 25 September 2006 13:57 To: Sustran-discuss@jca.apc.org; utsg@jiscmail.ac.uk Subject: [sustran] 'elephant in the bedroom' computer game?'utsg@jiscmail.ac.uk </DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV class=Section1> Is this true or not? The ‘<A href="http://www.amazon.com/Elephant-Bedroom-Automobile-Dependence-Environment/dp/0932727654/ref=reader_req_dp/002-3342033-9727231?ie=UTF8">elephant in the bedroom</A>’ thesis of cars and cities?   A key tenet of the New Mobility Agenda and the core of all that concerns us here is that there is a rather simple but ineluctable geometric conflict between cars and cities. Namely that most cities can accommodate a certain quantum of private cars in traffic and within their existing urban form and infrastructure up to a certain point – beyond which something has to give.   Either (a) you adapt the city to the exigencies of an expanding population of cars – by adding capacity, expanding infrastructure, increasing vehicle speeds and throughput, etc.  (<A href="http://www.ecoplan.org/briefs/general/old-mobility.htm#quick">the ‘old mobility’ approach</A> to transport in cities.) Or alternatively you search for  ways to advance and adapt the mobility system to keep within the dimensions and social and economic dynamics of the historic city.  The sine quo non in both cases is that the mobility arrangements whatever they are not undermine the local economy and the overall sustainability of the city (otherwise after a bit you will have no city left, or at least one with a very different economic and life quality profile).   Against this background, my question today is to ask your counsel in the following? 1.      Do you know of the existence of a game which demonstrate visually the ‘carrying capacity’ of a city for car-based transport – and can also help us to understand what happens when you reach some kind of critical threshold and decision point? 2.      It might be a board game -- or probably far better something along the lines of Sim City which can handle the variables that need to be factored in and inspected in terms of their cumulative results. 3.      The ideal game to my mind  would be a somewhat interactive game that would permit the player to set a certain number of parameters which reflect the situation in their city, and then so start to play with the numbers.  And when we reach a decision point and decide, as has all too often happened in the past, to increase capacity, speeds etc. for the car component, it would be good to see the results of the ‘space take’; of this policy. 4.      And while I dream, I would also like to have some kind of ballpark estimates of performance under these various views of the city: fuel requirements, CO2 production, even accidents, something about under- or un-served groups, and a few other things. Should not be impossible, don’t you think?   And if such a game does not exist, might you be interested   a.       To participate in a project which would have as its objective first to research and define that main guidelines and parameters of such a game? b.      And to look for some agency or other to help finance such an effort?   It would be lovely if you would be able to share with us information on such a game and how we all can access and use it. And failing that to have your comments and ideas for this proposal (which I have to think is not original, so if we can link to something already underway along these lines, that would be just splendid.   I leave you with a link to a shot of a <A href="http://www.ecoplan.org/wtpp/wt_home-houston.htm">well working old mobility system</A>.   Eric Britton    </DIV></BODY> ............................................................................................................................................................................................ DISCLAIMER   This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which they are addressed. Unless you are the named addressee, or authorised to receive it for the addressee, you may not copy or use it, or disclose it to anyone else. If you have received this email in error please contact the sender by replying to this email. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p> </o:p> Any views expressed by an individual within this email which do not constitute or record professional advice relating to the business of Colin Buchanan, do not necessarily reflect the views of the company. Any professional advice or opinion contained within this email is subject to our terms and conditions of business. <o:p> </o:p> We have taken precautions to minimise the risk of transmitting software viruses. We do not accept liability for any loss or damage caused by software viruses.  </HTML>