¶ … Transport Impact of modern transport on industrialized countries

The movement from the bicycle to the modern forms of transport has been both, boon, and an impediment. The positive elements of the developments within transportation over the years have more than adequately made up for the negative aspects. This later position is slowly being undermined because of the increase in gasoline consumption, which has both economic and environmental concerns. Additionally, the horrendous traffic jams, which occur in some urban centers, diminish the travel experience. However, despite some mild irritants the overwhelming position is that modern transport has improved the life of most citizens and has reshaped the world into a smaller and more vibrant community.

The most obvious change that accompanied the advent of modern forms of transport was the ability to travel extensively. Prior to the introduction of these forms of transportation, travel was both arduous and at times hazardous. The danger was increased by the duration of the travel and the means of travel. With the widespread usage of personal motor vehicles and the introduction of mass transit vehicles travel as a recreational experience became available to many more persons. Trains allowed the movement of large numbers of people over vast distances in a safe manner. The personal car provided the necessary opportunity for families and individuals to see the country. Airplanes made both national and international travel a positive and reasonable option.

This increase in travel meant that places that were only read about could now be visited and enjoyed. The world shrunk. Travel that used to take months could take a few hours. Instantly life became faster and more intense. It should be noted that while much of the travel experience is considered positive, Siddall (1987) notes that the progression from primitive forms of travel to more modern forms has reduced the experience of travel. This loss is the ability to truly savor the experience of travel. We are very concerned about getting to a destination and do not give sufficient attention to the process of getting to the destination. We have therefore lost the intangible elements of travel and the...

The tourist industry in many island nations of the Caribbean would not exist without modern transport. These island nations depend heavily on the presence of travellers from Europe and North America. This type of travelling is a direct result of the presence of airplanes and luxury cruise liners. The Caribbean is not the only beneficiary of this arrangement. There is the development of tourism within the United States, where during the winter months persons move to Florida to escape the cold. The tourist industry could not exist without the modern forms of transport.
The economic benefits of the new forms of transport are numerous. The most dominant being the savings that are made by companies from being more efficient. Much of the efficiency comes from the ability to produce better economies of scale. Larger quantities of goods can be moved around faster. This is more efficient and produces enormous savings for the company. A lot of this saving can be returned into the economy through investments. The net effect of this type of development is increased productivity across the entire economy. This ability to move goods and services quickly therefore influences the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country. The country becomes more prosperous and the lifestyle of all the members of society increases.

A downside to this economic experience…