Perhaps you could soon be travelling in an Automated People Mover (APM) .These fully automated vehicles capable of operation without human drivers are already being trialled in other parts of the world. These systems can be made up of vehicles that can carry between 12 to 100 people and run along a reserved guideway. These guideways can be located aboveground, at ground level or underground.

It is predicted that by the year 2020, it could be possible to fly between Europe and Australia (a trip which now takes about 24 hours) in less than three hours using ‘space planes’ that travel outside the atmosphere at orbital speed for most of the journey. Perhaps you could be travelling to school in hoverboots/skates or flying there with your jetpack. Is it also possible that we could see solar cars or cars powered by another source as common vehicles on our roads? What about an underwater rail system? We do not know yet what will be possible.

Queensland is continuing to grow. As the population increases, so does our need for modern transport facilities. Queensland Transport is planning to ensure that Queensland has adequate transport facilities available to everyone in the future. Queensland Transport has transport planners who work on projects and ideas for how transport can work as far into the future as 50 years time.

The transport planners have ideas on how our public transport system will look, how we will move freight, what our roads will be like, and ways we can encourage people to cycle and walk more. Queensland Transport conducts surveys like the South East Queensland Travel Survey which collects information on the day-to-day travel and activities of people living in South East Queensland. They collect information on how people travel, where they go, when and why. This survey is done every year and the information they collect helps transport planners plan for the future.

Queensland Transport is already looking well into the 21st century. They are using modern planning techniques to make transport safer, more efficient, more economical and kinder to the environment (eco-friendly).

Queensland Transport planners study the movements of pedestrians, cychref="http://three.mettromagic.com/index.cfm, motorists and public transport users to predict what will be needed in the future. When planning, they have to think about how people, animals and plants will be affected by factors such as noise and pollution.

Planners also try to preserve historic buildings and areas of cultural importance. New railways and roads may be planned to avoid passing through a historic property or a cultural area.

Queensland Transport is committed to promoting alternatives to car use - encouraging more people to use public transport, cycle and walk in order to reduce pollution and ease congestion. They have developed Cycle Network Plans for South East Queensland and other parts of the state to promote cycling. We can help Queensland Transport by changing our own travel habits and using other forms of transport besides cars.

It's easy. Talk to your parents/carers about:

• walking or cycling with you to and from school (they'll get healthier too)
• letting you walk or cycle with a group of responsible school friends
• encouraging your school to organise a group led by a teacher or parent/carer, to walk or cycle to school
• using public transport more often, for example catching the school bus
• dropping you off near school and walking the rest of the way
• carpooling with friends.

You can apply all of these to any travel you do, not just to school but from sports practice, to visiting friends and family or going to the movies. Remember, every trip you take that is not is a car help you, your family and the environment.