Learning from the Best and Worst: Problems, Prospects and Policy Implications from Global Benchmarking of Urban Passenger Transport Sustainability in Greater Manchester and the Leicester Metropolitan Area, UK

Studies comparing and benchmarking cities on transport and planning have been undertaken for decades. The unique methodology in this paper is explained and then applied to the Greater Manchester (GM) and Leicester (LM) metropolitan areas in the UK. The data cover land use, wealth, transport infrastructure, mobility patterns, energy use and selected externalities. The paper asks: How do the Greater Manchester and Leicester Metropolitan Areas compare with each other and to a sample of global cities in the sustainability of their urban passenger transport systems, what are the key factors that underpin their automobile dependence and what might be done to improve the prospects for public transport, walking and cycling? The answer is presented as standardised indicators comparing GM and LM to metropolitan areas in the USA, Canada, Australia, Europe and Asia (averages), as well as ten Swedish cities plus Freiburg-im-Breisgau, Germany. Both UK metropolitan areas rank poorly on most transport factors, especially public transport and cycling rates. They have uncharacteristically high car use and energy use compared to peer cities, especially since they have supportive urban densities and other factors that can underpin much less automobile dependence. Fundamental issues are raised about GM and LM and how to improve their transport sustainability. Policy implications with eleven recommendations are provided.