China’s trackless trams could revitalize city suburbs
Cities and transport have always evolved together. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, railways and trams opened cities up to new kinds of urban development on the edges of dense, walkable cities created over many centuries. Then in the mid-20th century, the introduction of cars opened huge opportunities for development beyond inner ring suburbs, creating the urban sprawl common to many modern cities.
Today, there is an urgent need to rethink how city transport works, due to congestion, emissions, and housing shortages. Cities everywhere need redevelopment to minimise long car-commutes and create more liveable cities and suburbs. The middle suburbs are particularly important in this respect, as they often have sparse and slow public transport – in many of these areas, trams were taken out and replaced with buses that can’t compete with cars.