Band 7.5 answer
Traffic is a daily frustration in most large cities, and there is disagreement about whether the answer lies in better buses and trains or in more roads. Although both approaches have merit, I believe public transport deserves priority.
Those who favour road building argue that cars offer a freedom that no timetable can match. A family with young children, or a tradesperson carrying tools, cannot easily rely on a bus. Wider roads and new bypasses can also shorten journeys for freight, which keeps the cost of goods down. In rural areas, where services are infrequent, this argument is especially strong.
However, the evidence from cities suggests that new roads often fail to solve the problem they were built for. Extra capacity tends to attract extra traffic, so congestion returns within a few years, at a much greater cost to taxpayers. Public transport, by contrast, can move far more people in a given space. A single tram line may carry as many passengers as several lanes of cars, while producing less pollution per person. Reliable services also give those who cannot afford or are unable to drive, such as students and older people, access to jobs and healthcare.
For these reasons, I believe governments should invest first in buses, trams and trains, particularly in dense urban areas. This does not mean that roads should be neglected: maintaining existing ones and improving key junctions remain worthwhile. But spending on large new highways is likely to be less effective than spending on services that reduce the number of cars on the road.
In conclusion, although cars suit some journeys better, public transport offers the more sustainable and equitable solution to urban congestion.