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Defence Value of Road Transport Neglected?

6th November 1936
Page 37
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Page 37, 6th November 1936 — Defence Value of Road Transport Neglected?
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

TT was recently aisnonnced by a leading organizer lin the road-transport industry that a plan submitted to provide a system of road transport for the distribution of food supplies, etc., in the event of war, had been rejected by the Government. • The important point is not whether any particu lar scheme has not been sanctioned, but whether the Government is doing anything towards such organization. If so, it is unknown to the roadtransport concerns of this country. We do not like to harp upon the possibilities of Britain being involved in any important war, but we are firmly of the opinion that the best way to avoid such a calamity is to be thoroughly prepared. and in this connection transport is one of the most vital factors. Both water and rail transport are more vulnerable than that by road, and it is essential that, within the confines of these islands, we should set up some practical scheme for ensuring the adequate distribution of food and general commodities, as well as of war material, in time of national emergency.

Any War Department subsidy scheme may provide a nucleus, but far more than that would be necessary to meet both military and civil requirements. The types of vehicle, their suitability for particular functions, their normal allocation, and the places at which they can be concentrated when necessary, should all be known and the essential plans made, and we would welcome an authoritative statement that this important matter is not being neglected.

Some Important Tendencies in Transport

I N his inaugural address, Sir Alfred Read, Presi dent of the Institute of Transport, dealt mainly with coastal shipping, but made some observations on the trend of transport which are of considerable interest He referred to the hundreds of thousands of new cyclists added to the traffic stream, classifying them as 10,000,000 vehicles of "two-wheeled uncertainty," unlicensed and uncharted, enjoying the prerogative of the use of the roads, without let or hindrance, a source of joy and health to thousands, no doubt, but one of additional anxiety in the controlling of traffic.

He stated that the difficulty of compressing, directing and controlling traffic within the limits set by the imperative needs of modern life, without inflicting undue hardship and injustice in the process, is one of the major problems of traffic co ordination. He hinted at the extension of licensing, irrespective of that for taxation purposes, and suggested the advisability of establishing a chair of transport in some great university.

The day was envisaged when railway terminals may also accommodate both air and road trans port, and the station of the future will probably have railways on the ground floor, motor vehicles, private and public, on the first floor, and aero planes, either of the auto-gyro type or launched by catapult, on the roof, whilst public garages, shops and tube stations will be underneath. Powerful lifts and turntables would enable buses to discharge passengers at the appropriate level and depart without adding to congestion.

Sir Alfred described road traffic as the greatest transport phenomenon of the century, but stated that we are still suffering from the failure of our forefathers to develop the Roman system of long straight highways. The method adopted of fol lowing the winding cattle tracks and footpaths of the Middle Ages is accountable for a large proportion of the accidents which are so appalling a fea ture of modern life. If we could restore the Roman idea of placing mileage first and reeking little of gradients, we should make a short cut towards the speeding up of road transport, the increase of safety and the removal of congestion.

The rapid displacement of trams by trolleybuses is welcomed as improving the fluidity of traffic in urban areas.

Whether it be for his ultimate good or not, man will continue to aspire to greater range for his peripatetic instincts, to yearn for an expansion of knowledge and experience, which will affect all classes of the community. More and more transport will be required for the satisfaction of man's needs and ambitions.

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