Urban Transport: background, problems and challenges PIMMS TRANSFER MC 2009 Almada, 24 March 2009 Giuliano Mingardo mingardo@ese.eur.nl

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

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;

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

The Theory of the Urban Life Cycle

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

Evolution of commuting (I)

Evolution of commuting (2) HOME WORKPLACE HOME KINDERGARTEN WORKPLACE GYM SUPERMARKET VIDEO-RENTAL

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

Changes in modal choice 1890s till 1930s: WALKING 1930s till 1950s: BUS & BICYCLE 1960s on: CAR

Transportation and Urban Form Urban transportation is organized in three broad categories: Collective transport Individual transport Freight transport

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

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!

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

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

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.

Mobility vs. Accessibility (3) Accessibility, unlike mobility, is always seen as positive. Therefore, unlike mobility, more accessibility is always seen as better!

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!

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?

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?

Accessibility vs. GDP

Perceived quality as a business location vs Perceived quality as a business location vs. Perceived external accessibility Giveaway’s: External accessibility is good for your competitive position 24

Changing role of external accessibility

Cumulative Modal Contribution to Economic Opportunities Industrial Revolution Mass Production Globalization Telecommunications Air Roads Economic Opportunities Railways Canal shipping Source: adapted from HOP Associates (2005) “Time, mobility and economic growth”, http://www.flexibility.co.uk/issues/transport/time-mobility.htm Maritime shipping Horses 1750 1775 1800 1825 1850 1875 1900 1925 1950 1975 2000 2025 2050

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;

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? ...?

Group work 8 groups, 5/6 persons each Your task: State what are, according to you, the three most important problems and the three most important challenges in urban transport; Motivate your choice and be prepared to defend it during the interactive discussion!