Various models have been used to explain the formulation and implementation of public policy. Among these is the elite model, which suggests that public policy is the policy of the elites, by the elites, for the elites. This is different from pluralistic models which see public policy as the outcome of compromises between numerous competing interests. This paper shows how the elite model may be applied to explain decision making in the transport sector of Pakistan. This is apparent in motorization trends based on policy decisions that have tended to facilitate private motorists rather than users of public transport.

In an attempt to reduce CO2 emissions from motorized transport, the Taiwanese government introduced an idling stop policy for vehicles in early 2007. This paper seeks to quantify the environmental benefits of the policy based on a stated preference analysis. Motorcyclists were surveyed at urban intersections in Taiwan, to identify the amount of time they would be willing to turn off their engines while waiting at traffic lights (the WTO). A contingent valuation framework based on stated preference questions was designed to determine the WTO. Results obtained from the Spike model showed that the average motorcyclist’s WTO is 82 s. In another analysis, in which other variables were taken into consideration, such as the possibility that the policy will be enacted as legislation, the expected WTO increased to 101 s. In both cases, an idling stop policy would have positive environmental effects, reducing gasoline usage by 1021 L per hour and reducing CO2 emissions by 0.56 metric tons per hour at the intersection studied during peak periods.