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Urban Transport: background, problems and challenges

PIMMS TRANSFER MC 2009

Almada, 24 March 2009

Giuliano Mingardomingardo@ese.eur.nl

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Agenda of this morning

• 09:30 – 10:15: Urban transport: background, problems and challenges

• 10:15 – 11:00: Group works• 11:00 – 11:15: Coffee break• 11:15 – 11:45: How to change the mobility plan of

a city: the case of Graz (Gerhard Ablasser)• 11:45 – 12:30: Interactive Session

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Urban transport: background, problems and challenges

We will discuss:– The development of metropolitan regions;

– The relation between transportation and urban forms;

– The concepts of Mobility and Accessibility;

– The importance of transport for urban regions;

– Urban transport problems and challenges;

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The development of metropolitan regions

• Metropolitan areas develop according to a specific pattern: the Urban Life Cycle (ULC)

• There are 4 stages in urban development:– Urbanization – Sub-urbanization– De-urbanization– Re-urbanization

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The Theory of the Urban Life Cycle

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The development of metropolitan regions

• Nowadays urban regions are entering a new (5th) stage of development where the focus is on:– Economic growth;– Accessibility;– Environmental Quality;– Health;

QUALITY OF LIFE

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Evolution of commuting (I)

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Evolution of commuting (2)

HOME WORKPLACE

HOME

KINDERGARTEN WORKPLACE

GYM

SUPERMARKETVIDEO-RENTAL

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Brownian movements

• Brownian motion is the seemingly random movement of particles suspended in a fluid (i.e. a liquid or gas)

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Changes in modal choice

• 1890s till 1930s: WALKING

• 1930s till 1950s: BUS & BICYCLE

• 1960s on: CAR

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Transportation and Urban Form

Urban transportation is organized in three broad categories:

• Collective transport

• Individual transport

• Freight transport

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Transportation and Urban Form

Urban transportation is associated with a spatial form which varies according to the modes being used.

Considering commuting:

• Walking – 5 km

• Cycling – 15 km

• Driving (no freeways) – 30 km

• Driving (freeways) – 60 km

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Transportation and Urban Form

The automobile requires space to move around (roads) but it also spends 98% of its existence stationary in a parking space.

As such, a significant amount of urban space must be allocated to accomodate the automobile, especially when it does not move and is thus economically and socially useless!

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Transportation and Urban Form

The major components of the spatial imprints of urban transportation are:

• Pedestrian areas

• Cycling areas

• Roads and parking areas

• Transit systems

• Transport terminals

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Mobility vs. Accessibility (1)

• Mobility: the ease of moving

• Mobility in the city: the ease of moving in the city

• Accessibility: the ease of reaching a destination

• Accessibility of a city: the ease of reaching that city

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Mobility vs. Accessibility (2)

Mobility = amount of movement; it can be measured in terms of vehicle-km traveled, so in terms of distance traveled.

Accessibility = ease of reaching a destination; it can’t be directly measured, but only quantified or indicated in terms of other variables.

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Mobility vs. Accessibility (3)

Accessibility, unlike mobility, is always seen as positive.

Therefore, unlike mobility, more accessibility is always seen as better!

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Mobility vs. Accessibility (4)

Statements:

• Accessibility cannot increase in an environment where mobility is increasing

• Improving mobility does not mean increasing accessibility

• Accessibility is the ultimate aim of mobility!

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The importance of transport for urban regions

Key questions:

• How important is transport for the economic functioning of cities?

• Does investment in transport (infrastructure) promote economic growth at urban and regional level?

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Why these questions?

• Because too often transport policy is used by governments to get aims other than transport:– Regional development;– Employment;– Social inclusion;

• Is this approach correct?

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Accessibility vs. GDPAccessibility vs. GDP

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Perceived quality as a business location vs. Perceived external accessibility

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Changing role of external accessibility

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Cumulative Modal Contribution to Economic Opportunities

HorsesMaritime shipping

Canal shipping

Railways

Roads Air

Telecommunications

1750 1775 1800 1825 1850 1875 1900 1925 1950 1975 2000 2025 2050

Econ

om

ic O

pp

ort

un

itie

s

Industrial Revolution Mass Production

Globalization

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Urban Transport Problems

Transport problems are usually urban problems!Most notable urban transport problems:• Traffic congestion and parking difficulties;• Public transport inadequacy;• Difficulties for pedestrians;• Loss of public space;• Environmental impacts and energy consumption;• Accidents and safety;• Land consumption;• Freight distribution;

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Urban Transport Challenges

The major urban transport challenges are:

• Get people out of the car?

• Get people use cleaner vehicles?

• Get more people walking and cycling?

• ...?

• ...?

• ...?

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Group work

• 8 groups, 5/6 persons each

• Your task: 1. State what are, according to you, the three most

important problems and the three most important challenges in urban transport;

2. Motivate your choice and be prepared to defend it during the interactive discussion!