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History of Transportation

Public transport has always been an important part of the development of modern civilization. In fact, the development of public transport mirrors the development of human society.

Some of the first known references to public transport in literature were in Greek myths, where coins were placed in the mouth of corpses to pay for the ferry transport of the body. Ancient Greek and Roman civilizations were based around the Mediterranean Sea and its various harbours and inlets, but it wasn’t until the arrival of public ferries that people could choose to travel by water to other places.

Fast forward nearly two and a half centuries through the Byzantine Empire and the Dark Ages to the Renaissance period of the 15th and 16th centuries, and you will discover a world where interest in arts and science is being reborn in wealthy trading cities. It was the Stagecoach, a horse-drawn carriage that carried the public on scheduled routes, which was responsible for many of the towns that developed during this period in England and North America.

When a system of coal transport, involving trolleys fixed to rails, was successful in European and American minefields, the same system began to be used to transport people and freight.

Overview

Transportation is the movement of people, cargo, goods, merchandise or products by land, air or sea. This can include using cars, trucks, vans, trains, airplanes, helicopters, blimps or ships. On an international scale this may involve logistics, distribution, warehousing and customs clearance. In an urban setting this may include traffic control such as traffic lights, road markings and sign age, towing and recovery, moving and relocation, and subways, trolleys, buses and taxis. All areas can include things such as safety, navigation and equipment.