1. Urban Transport: background, problems and challenges
PIMMS TRANSFER MC 2009
Almada, 24 March 2009
Giuliano Mingardo

2. 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

3. 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;

4. 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

5. The Theory of the Urban Life Cycle

6. 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

7. Evolution of commuting (I)

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

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

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

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

12. 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

13. 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!

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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.

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

18. 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!

21. 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?

22. 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?

23. Accessibility vs. GDP

24. 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

25. Changing role of external accessibility

26. 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”,
Maritime shipping
Horses
1750
1775
1800
1825
1850
1875
1900
1925
1950
1975
2000
2025
2050

27. 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;

31. 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?
...?

32. 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!