transport

Transport is the movement of people, goods, and information between locations. It relies on vehicles, infrastructure, and organized systems for planning, funding, regulation, safety, and logistics. The aim is to enable efficient, reliable, and safe access to services while connecting markets and communities.

Major modes are land, water, and air transport. Land transport includes road vehicles—cars, buses, trucks—and bicycles, as well as rail systems and pipelines. Water transport covers ships on oceans and rivers, ferries, and inland waterways. Air transport includes airplanes and helicopters. Walking and cycling are active modes with environmental and health benefits.

Transport networks rely on infrastructure such as roads, railways, ports, airports, terminals, and logistics facilities. Intermodal transport combines multiple modes in a single journey, supported by schedules, containers, and standardized handling. Operations are governed by planning, traffic management, safety regulations, tariffs, and international conventions for trade and carriage of goods.

Environmental considerations are central to transport policy, as moving people and goods consumes energy and generates emissions, noise, and pollution. Efforts focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing fuel efficiency, electrifying fleets, promoting public transit, walking, cycling, and improving freight logistics and last-mile delivery.

Historically, transport evolved from human and animal power to roads, canals, railways, and aviation, transforming economies and societies. Contemporary trends include electrification, automation, digitalization of logistics, high-speed rail, and sustainable urban mobility, aiming to balance accessibility with environmental and societal objectives.