There is an increasing concern about the growth of car dependence and its associated negative impacts on cities, including economic and environmental factors, urban form and lifestyle. City authorities worldwide now pay increasing attention to sustainable transport systems by enhancing or introducing public transit services. An example is Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia, which has witnessed a significant growth in car ownership and population. Current efforts to reduce high dependence on private cars in Riyadh involve the development of a new public transport system. Against this background, this paper considers the wider impacts of the new public transport system in Riyadh City on urban form, economics, environment, social norms and culture. The analysis is based on in-depth interviews conducted with transport experts and officials of relevant authorities in Riyadh City. The study results highlight that the city's urban form would have the highest impact on the uptake of public transport. Moreover, stakeholders assumed that the provision of public transport services in Riyadh would improve mobility, decrease travel time, and create more employment opportunities, positively affecting Riyadh City's economy and the environment. Interviewees concluded that these potential interventions would affect social norms and culture positively in the long term.

In an effort to reduce traffic congestion and excess dependency on private vehicles in Riyadh City, authorities are considering introducing public transport infrastructure and enforcement policies. This study was conducted to evaluate whether the current Riyadh City transport policy measures are adequate to encourage public transport ridership and identify relevant transport policy measures to encourage a shift from use of private cars to public transport. A series of semi-structured interviews were conducted in Riyadh during June and July 2015. Seventeen study participants were selected to represent local stakeholders including transport experts and representatives of Riyadh City authorities. It was found that existing transport policy measures involve conventional approaches e.g. increasing road infrastructure to match growth in private vehicle ownership. There is, however, considerable support for reshaping the existing Travel Demand Management policies and measures along with introducing a public transport system. Improving infrastructure to enhance accessibility to and from transit stations, selecting appropriate Transit-Oriented Development sites, parking charges, separate carriages for families, and promoting the safety of public transport facilities are perceived as the most effective strategies.