On why planning should not reinforce self-reinforcing trends: A cautionary analysis of the compact-city proposal applied to large cities

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2011

Authors

António Cunha Ferreira (Author) FEUP; Peter Batey (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design

Vol. 38 No. 2

Pages: 231-247

ISSN: 0265-8135

Publisher: SAGE Publications

Indexing

Scopus - 8 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00N-9QA

DOI: 10.1068/b36102

Abstract (EN): Urban densification has been presented as a general recipe to reduce travelling. The size of settlements was not considered particularly relevant in this proposal. Two arguments are presented that challenge the notion that densification of large cities leads to less travelling. The first is related to the internal dynamics of compact areas in large cities; the second to the dynamics between central and peripheral areas. It is shown that the densification of large cities leads to either more travelling because of the wide range of available opportunities provided by agglomeration effects, or more time spent on travelling due to congestion. The conclusion is that it is counterproductive for transport planning to endorse approaches that compact the urban form of large cities. © 2011 Pion Ltd and its Licensors.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific