City dwellers believe transport and traffic are the key elements that need to be improved to make their towns better places in which to live, a survey has shown.
Those polled put public transport, road links and parking ahead of the environment, safety and health as the first things they would improve and change if they ran a big city.
Nearly 60% of respondents cited traffic and transport as their number one city priority, with the general environment and cleanliness seen as the next most important thing.
Based on responses from hundreds of urban professionals from the UK and around the world, the survey came in a report prepared for the Philips company by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).
The report also said: More than half of those polled would pay more, in tax or other ways, to get better roads and public transport. Citizens are happy now but worry about the future strain on public services.
Almost 60% reckon life in their cities is getting better, but older respondents are more likely to say life is getting tougher. Many over-60s would prefer to move out of the city;
Civic authorities need to look to their own inhabitants to develop infrastructure innovation. Citizens experience city life daily, they have better knowledge of these systems and what works, so local authorities should be more prepared to cede more to citizens and develop partnerships.
Iain Scott, senior editor in the EIU's business research division, said: "We were surprised at the perceived importance of transport issues to citizens. They rate transport above access to quality healthcare and decent childcare and education when deciding what makes a city an attractive place to live."
He went on: "Despite how much city dwellers enjoy their quality of life, they are generally doubtful that their cities will be able to cope with pressures in future.
"Policymakers will therefore need to get better at proving that they have the long-term vision and resources to ensure that standards of liveability can be maintained."
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