Urban trends and urban behaviour: a contribution to the transport and greenhouse debate

Any attempt to understand the potential for social and community change in urban development needs to begin with a good understanding of the way that a major city operates and the motivations of people who make commercial and residential decisions. In particular, it is important to know the reasons for location decisions that will have an impact on transport in the short and long term. Only with a good understanding of these aspects will it be possible to frame a public policy that could lead to favourable changes in environmental terms. This paper suggests that major cities are fragmenting into smaller subunits due to new journey-to-work and social travel patterns. These new patterns reflect particular values placed on residential and work place location, by both residents and commercial/industrial firms. Achieving environmental objectives in transport policy will require services consistent with these patterns. Much of the following is based on an understanding that local geography limits the behaviour of people as they look for jobs and housing, go shopping and make social contacts. This localisation stems from geographic restrictions on search behaviour due to the costs and inconvenience of finding new opportunities, and the limited geographical experience that most individuals have of a metropolitan area. So long as these factors operate, the scope for change in the structure and organisation will be constrained and the most effective policy will be one that focuses attention at this scale rather than attempts t create a new environment for social and work structures.

• Authors:
  • O'Connor, K
• Conference:
  • Transport and Greenhouse - Towards Solutions, National Conference, 1991, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
• Publication Date: 1991

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 17p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Decision making; Employment; Environment; Greenhouse effect; Transportation; Travel behavior; Urban development
• ATRI Terms: Decision process; Employment; Environment; Greenhouse effect; Transport; Travel behaviour; Urban development
• Subject Areas: Environment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01432530
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ATRI
• Created Date: Aug 24 2012 5:05PM