He points out that both Hong Kong and Zurich have managed to make a success of their rail systems, heavy and light respectively, though there are few cities in the world as hilly.
Bicycle use was not included in the study but Newman noted that the two most "bicycle friendly" cities considered—Amsterdam and Copenhagen—were very efficient.
Newman believes one of the best studies on how cities built for cars might be converted to rail use is The Urban Village report, which used Melbourne as an example.
Professor Peter Newman, ISTP Director, pointed out that these more efficient cities were able to put the difference into attracting industry and jobs or creating a better place to live.
Newman, however, believes the study demonstrates that "the auto-dependent city model is inefficient and grossly inadequate in economic as well as environmental terms".