We cannot solve modern transport challenges with outdated approaches
A discussion on the transport paradigm shift was organised by the Urban Planning Institute of the Republic of Slovenia on the 16th January 2025
The Transformative transport planning research group at Urban Planning Institute of the Republic of Slovenia presented the policy paper "We Cannot Solve Modern Transport Challenges with Outdated Approaches". Over the past 30 years, Slovenia has built numerous new roads to facilitate the country's development and make car travel faster, more convenient, and safer. While road safety on long-distance routes has significantly improved, paradoxically, our quality of life has deteriorated: we spend more time on roads, travel longer distances, and often find ourselves stuck in traffic. Slovenia stands at a crossroads: will we continue with onesided investments in the road network, which are proven to exacerbate societal issues?
Members of the UIRS Transformative transport planning research group Aljaž Plevnik, Tom Rye, Luka Mladenovič, Mojca Balant, and Andraž Hudoklin presented the key messages from the policy paper:
- Slovenia needs a new transport paradigm to improve quality of life.
Current transport planning, focused on road expansion and accommodating the growth of car traffic, results in greater congestion, longer travel times, and reduced accessibility to key destinations. Planning paradigm shift is needed to manage private motorized traffic and prioritize public transport, cycling, walking, as well as digital and spatial accessibility.
- Implementing a new paradigm requires changes in values and planning methods.
The new paradigm focuses on ensuring accessibility rather than mere mobility. It calls for a shift from a sectoral to an interdisciplinary approach, new values and practices, the adoption of comprehensive and integrated transport planning, and its integration with spatial planning.
- The transition to the new paradigm is hindered by outdated planning practices and resistance from key stakeholders.
The old paradigm, based on road and parking capacity expansion, dominates due to esteblished beliefs and practices within the profession, financial interests, and distrust in new approaches. The shift requires new knowledge, international experience exchange, awareness-raising, and collaboration among professionals and the public to demonstrate the benefits of a paradigm shift.
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About STPN:
Committed to a paradigm shift in traffic planning and management, we operate both domestically and internationally, collaborating with leading experts and stakeholders from the public and private sectors. With over 20 years of experience, we deliver professional recommendations and solutions grounded in research, practical testing, and real-world insights. We provide training for both domestic and international experts, decision-makers, and the next generation of specialists in the field.
The event was as part of the CARE4CLIMATE project.
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CONTACT AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
E-mail: stpn@uirs.si
Website
Recording of the event
Policy paper