Improving the collection and monitoring of urban travel data: an international review

Sound and reliable data are essential for the development of effective urban transport strategies, yet national governments differ considerably in their requirements on and support for the collection of such data. This paper reports a survey of national governments which assessed the policy areas for which data is needed, the types of indicator required, the split of responsibilities in collecting data and the guidance and support provided in the collection process. It categorises the problems which national and local governments face in data collection and interpretation. It concludes by presenting a series of recommendations for good practice in the specifying the data needed, enhancing data quality, allocating responsibilities for data collection and interpretation, and disseminating the results.