BLOG1: Sustainable Transport

The Importance of Sustainability

Sustainability plays a vital role in urban design because cities bring together economic, social, and environmental challenges, characterized by high population density and considerable resource needs. Sustainable urban design really impacts how residents live, how well we use natural resources, and the health of our ecosystems (United Nations, 2015). By implementing thoughtful urban design, cities have the potential to lower carbon emissions, make better use of land, safeguard natural resources, and develop green spaces. This improves air quality, reduces noise pollution, and creates a healthy, comfortable living environment for residents while also connecting with urban transportation. Transportation plays a crucial role in how we move around every day and is vital for the overall functioning of a city. At the same time, urban design affects the types of transportation options available, like how easy it is to walk, bike, or access efficient public transport systems. So, building cities that are resilient, inclusive, and sustainable is really important for global sustainable development (Platzer, 2021).

Sustainable transportation and urban design focus on improving how resources are used and minimizing environmental effects by offering various travel choices and sensible city planning. Important aspects involve combining walking, cycling, public transport, and shared mobility to lessen dependence on private vehicles (Platzer, 2021). High-density, mixed-use development is really important for this purpose. These designs make commuting shorter, ease traffic congestion, and include green spaces and public plazas, which improve the quality of life for residents. Having walkable streets, bike lanes, and priority bus lanes provides more low-carbon travel options, which helps make cities more inclusive and adaptable to various population needs. Sustainable designs really enhance our quality of life and encourage urban development that’s more eco-friendly and resilient.

Sustainable Transportation Development in the Netherlands

Traditional urban design, which often focuses on cars, has caused issues like pollution, traffic accidents, and wasted land, making urban sustainability weaker. More cities are starting to see that careful urban design can really cut down on resource use, enhance environmental quality, and make life easier and healthier for people living there. An important example is the Netherlands. After more people started using cars, the number of road fatalities in the Netherlands increased significantly. In 1971, there were the most traffic deaths recorded: more than 3,200, with around 400 of them being children. In 1973, the “Stop de Kindermoord” group protested against cars taking over areas where kids play. Their requests involved making roads safer for kids, safeguarding pedestrians and cyclists, and pushing the government to seriously rethink transport policies by placing cars lower in the mobility hierarchy. Civic protests made city planners rethink how transportation works, leading to a push for bicycles as the main way to get around and the creation of bike lanes and pedestrian zones in downtown areas. This measure received a lot of support from the public. Today, Amsterdam is known all over the world for being a great city for biking. The changes show how closely linked sustainable transportation is to urban design, offering strong solutions to the resource and environmental issues that come with urbanization (Kumar, Hennessy & Kelly, 2024).

Sustainable Transportation Development in Beijing, China

The second United Nations Global Sustainable Transport Conference took place in Beijing, China, in October 2021. It centered on the opportunities, challenges, and solutions related to sustainable transportation, providing global guidance. The development of sustainable transport in Beijing, China, was a key area of focus. In 2013, Fujiwara and Zhang pointed out that a city design focused on public transportation would be more suitable for Beijing’s sustainable transport future. They suggested putting in place policies such as constructing new roads, figuring out appropriate city layouts, controlling the increase of private vehicles, and enhancing public transportation systems to sustainably address the serious traffic problems in Beijing. They pointed out that due to high policy costs and financial constraints in many developing cities, improving public transport was the most cost-effective way to achieve sustainable urban transport. For almost ten years, Beijing has been working on developing public transit systems, as well as improving cycling and pedestrian networks, along with road infrastructure. Policies such as “restricted license plate days”(The policy on vehicle license plate restrictions is a method for managing traffic. According to local traffic rules, cars with specific ending numbers on their license plates can’t drive on certain roads on particular days of the week. This policy isn’t just for certain roads or specific vehicles; it actually limits all vehicles in a designated area. Also, the restricted license plate numbers get updated every so often.), promoting public and non-motorized transportation, metro expansions, BRT routes, and the development of new energy vehicles. At the end of 2019, the green travel rate in central Beijing was 73.1%. The growth of shared bikes, electric vehicles, and related industries has been really fast, and it’s having a positive effect on China’s social, economic, and environmental sustainability.

Case Study – Singapore

Singapore has achieved success in sustainable transportation mainly by using a “Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)” model and creating a “multi-modal transport network.” TOD connects public transportation with urban planning by grouping high-density residential, commercial, and office areas near metro stations and bus hubs. This approach helps decrease reliance on private cars and promotes the use of public transit (Liow, Choon-Yin & SpringerLink, 2023). TOD areas are typically designed to be walkable, making it easy for residents and workers to move between walking and using public transit. Singapore has a really well-rounded transport system that features a variety of options like the metro, buses, taxis, and shared mobility services. The metro network is especially extensive and reliable, which helps to cut down on travel time a lot. The government promotes cycling by providing convenient bike lanes.

By combining TOD and multi-modal transport, Singapore improves traffic flow and encourages a high-density, low-carbon, public transit-focused urban development model, offering a useful example for other cities regarding sustainable transportation.

Sustainable transportation offers a variety of advantages

Sustainable transportation helps make the environment better and supports the social and economic sustainability of cities. Optimizing urban design and transportation systems can help cities find a balance between low-carbon travel, efficient traffic flow, and green spaces. For example, high-density transit-oriented development along with various travel options decreases the need for personal vehicles, improves the quality of life for residents, and encourages healthier living habits. Also, smart traffic management and building green infrastructure help cities adapt more effectively to challenges like climate change and resource scarcity. Implementing sustainable transportation provides important insights and experiences for urban development globally and is a crucial aspect of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. It’s really important for governments, designers, and citizens to collaborate on promoting green travel. By integrating sustainable transportation with urban design, we can create future cities that provide more opportunities and improved living environments.

Reference List:

Fujiwara, A. & Zhang, J. (2013) Comprehensive Travel Demand Analysis in Asian Developing Megacities. Sustainable transport studies in Asia, 3(9-10), pp.82-85 [Online] Available at: https://link-springer-com.libproxy.ncl.ac.uk/book/10.1007/978-4-431-54379-4 (Accessed: 11 November 2024).

Kumar,A. J., Hennessy,N. & Kelly,S. (2024), Reclaiming Amsterdam, [Online] Available at: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/55863ed081c14596968f3de40f3dc6f4 (Accessed: 11 November 2024).

Liow Li Sa, M., Choon-Yin, S. & SpringerLink (2023) Managing Vehicle Population for Sustainable Development, Sustainable Urban Development in Singapore Imagining Walkability in an Urban Concrete Jungle, 7, pp.140-141 [Online] Available at: https://link-springer-com.libproxy.ncl.ac.uk/book/10.1007/978-981-99-5451-3 (Accessed: 11 November 2024).

Platzer,K. (2021), Sustainable Transport, Sustainable Development, [Online] Available at: https://sdgs.un.org/sites/default/files/2021-10/Transportation%20Report%202021_FullReport_Digital.pdf (Accessed: 11 November 2024).

United Nations. (2015), The Sustainable Development Goals, [Online] Available at: https://sdgs.un.org/zh/goals (Accessed: 11 November 2024).