Kategorie Publikation
 Jarass, J. (2015) New living concepts in the city: the potential impact of urban planning on travel behaviour. In: ECEEE SUMMER STUDY PROCEEDINGS 2015, Seiten 707-714.  

Abstract

For the past several decades, residents have moved to the suburbs in order to satisfy their desire for a house with a garden. Being far less accessible than the residences in cities these suburban areas often require longer commuting distances and motorized travel. Therefore they cause greater emissions and energy consumption than compact development. Recently, municipalities have tried to attract households by offering new living concepts within the urban fabric. In a few cities, former industrial areas or brownfields have been converted into residential areas (e.g. Kop van Zuid, Rotterdam). Some of these areas combine suburban housing types with urban amenities – they provide a rather suburban way of life in a central location.

This raises the question whether such living concepts promote energy efficient mobility. Therefore we seek to understand what kind of households move to these areas. What mobility needs can be identified? What urban planning measures can be taken to further stimulate sustainable travel behaviour? These questions will be addressed by analysing the daily mobility patterns of residents living in a new inner-city area in Berlin. The research area consists of terraced houses with gardens, parking spaces and green areas surrounded by compact land use structures.

The results suggest that this area attracts families seeking a central location with good public transport access and the ability to have a house with a garden. In the context of daily mobility, an interesting mismatch was identified: Over 80 % of the households have a car – this is well above the average in Berlin. However, these residents go for more than half of their trips by foot or by bike. Nonetheless the potential for sustainable land use and travel behaviour is far from being fully exploited. Neither energy efficient buildings nor alternative mobility concepts have been employed in the area. These shortcomings of urban planning as well as the potential for the combination of suburban housing types and an urban setting will be discussed.

DE