A critical aspect of understanding changing urban structures in the late 20th century revolves around changes in urban transport generally and commuting specifically. How will the continuing deconcentration of large urban areas affect the links between work and residence and how will the changing spatial arrangements of large urban areas affect congestion and in turn the form of the 'new' urban region? The debates about future spatial forms are examined within the context of a case-study of the Randstad and the Southern Californian urban region. The tentative conclusions of the empirical analysis point to a strengthening of policentric structures. At the same time, increasing affluence, greater dependence on the automobile (even in the Netherlands) will in the short term at least, increase congestion. Thus the commuting paradox, shorter commutes but increasing congestion, is a function of urban spatial restructuring and the preference for the private car.
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