Articles

• The Relationships between Urban Form and Travel Patterns. An International Review and Evaluation

  There is a growing body of research concerned with the relationship between urban form and travel patterns. Studies originate from a diversity of sources, and encompass a variety of geographic scales and locations. To add to this diversity, many different characteristics of urban form to have been examined in these studies, and travel patterns have been measured in a number of different ways. This paper brings together in a systematic way the results of many recent studies on urban form and travel patterns over the last 20 years. As well as this systematic approach, other key aspects of this review paper include the identification of where research has been concentrated (and where there are gaps in research), and in the critique of the studies, which includes issues of data accuracy, reliability and quality, the applicability of research methods and data interpretation. The critique focuses in some detail on the interaction of socio-economic factors with urban form and travel patterns.

  There is a growing body of research concerned with the relationship between urban form and travel patterns. Studies originate from a diversity of sources, and encompass a variety of geographic scales and locations. To add to this diversity, many different characteristics of urban form to have been examined in these studies, and travel patterns have been measured in a number of different ways. This paper brings together in a systematic way the results of many recent studies on urban form and travel patterns over the last 20 years. As well as this systematic approach, other key aspects of this review paper include the identification of where research has been concentrated (and where there are gaps in research), and in the critique of the studies, which includes issues of data accuracy, reliability and quality, the applicability of research methods and data interpretation. The critique focuses in some detail on the interaction of socio-economic factors with urban form and travel...

  There is a growing body of research concerned with the relationship between urban form and travel patterns. Studies originate from a diversity of sources, and encompass a variety of geographic scales and locations. To add to this diversity, many different characteristics of urban form to have...

  Dominic Stead, Stephen Marshall

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• Mainports as Integrators of Passenger, Freight and Information Networks. From Transport Nodes to Business Generators; the Dutch Case

  In the process of increasing globalization, mainports play an important role. A number of gateways have emerged as transport nodes in the networks of air and sea routes which crisscross the globe. Here, millions of travellers are transferred and millions of tonnes of freight are transhipped. Both Japan and the Netherlands play an important part in these ‘hub and spoke’ networks. In this contribution we will deal with the dynamics of mainports in general, and more specifically with the mainports of the Netherlands. Our argument is that their function goes far beyond that of infrastructure, transport and logistics. Although they started out as transport nodes, the mainports in the Netherlands are now evolving into fully fledged business generators. The economic function of mainports will be strengthened by integrating mainport and brainport functions. It will be further reinforced by seizing the opportunity to combine the traditional mainport functions. This will involve connecting airlines with road and rail transport networks, connecting ocean shipping with inland shipping, cargo trains, trucks and pipelines and connecting transport nodes with an infrastructural node of ICT (information and communications technology) networks. For the Randstad Holland (the Netherlands’ economic heartland in the west), we conclude that a stronger integration of gateway Rotterdam and mainport Amsterdam Schiphol could be considered. This could be achieved not only by strengthening their transport infrastructure, but first and foremost by planning, developing and integrating the ICT mainport functions.

  In the process of increasing globalization, mainports play an important role. A number of gateways have emerged as transport nodes in the networks of air and sea routes which crisscross the globe. Here, millions of travellers are transferred and millions of tonnes of freight are transhipped. Both Japan and the Netherlands play an important part in these ‘hub and spoke’ networks. In this contribution we will deal with the dynamics of mainports in general, and more specifically with the mainports of the Netherlands. Our argument is that their function goes far beyond that of infrastructure, transport and logistics. Although they started out as transport nodes, the mainports in the Netherlands are now evolving into fully fledged business generators. The economic function of mainports will be strengthened by integrating mainport and brainport functions. It will be further reinforced by seizing the opportunity to combine the traditional mainport functions. This will involve...

  In the process of increasing globalization, mainports play an important role. A number of gateways have emerged as transport nodes in the networks of air and sea routes which crisscross the globe. Here, millions of travellers are transferred and millions of tonnes of freight are transhipped....

  Hugo Priemus

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• The Impact of Institutional Structures on Transport Infrastructure Performance. A Cross-National Comparison on Various Indicators

  It is generally acknowledged that structures and styles of decision-making have an important impact on what transport networks under these regimes look like. However, this has not been a regular line of research up to now. This paper investigates this by distinguishing four types of institutional structures that reflect various politico-administrative systems and styles in Western Europe. It seeks to construe an argument on how these types of institutional structures have divergent impacts on 1) decision-making speed on infrastructure projects, 2) satisfaction of actors in the decision making process, 3) Benefit-Cost ratios for projects, 4) modal split, 5) size of transport networks, 6) congestion in the networks and 7) investment levels. It seeks to explain why every specific type of institutional structure has a specific predicted impact on the form, type and performance of the transport networks and also takes into account that institutional structure is not the only factor with an impact on final physical outcomes. The article gives a well-substantiated argument on the supposed connection and provides some empirical evidence, but does not claim statistical significance. It sets a first step toward a new line of research and suggests this may prove fruitful as a contribution to policy making.

  It is generally acknowledged that structures and styles of decision-making have an important impact on what transport networks under these regimes look like. However, this has not been a regular line of research up to now. This paper investigates this by distinguishing four types of institutional structures that reflect various politico-administrative systems and styles in Western Europe. It seeks to construe an argument on how these types of institutional structures have divergent impacts on 1) decision-making speed on infrastructure projects, 2) satisfaction of actors in the decision making process, 3) Benefit-Cost ratios for projects, 4) modal split, 5) size of transport networks, 6) congestion in the networks and 7) investment levels. It seeks to explain why every specific type of institutional structure has a specific predicted impact on the form, type and performance of the transport networks and also takes into account that institutional structure is not the only factor...

  It is generally acknowledged that structures and styles of decision-making have an important impact on what transport networks under these regimes look like. However, this has not been a regular line of research up to now. This paper investigates this by distinguishing four types of...

  W. Martin De Jong

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• The Impact of Alternative Access Modes on Urban Public Transport Network Design

  Public transport network design determines the quality for travellers as well as operational costs. Network design is therefore crucial for the cost effectiveness of urban public transport. In urban public transport network design it is commonly assumed that all travellers walk to the stops. This might be true for short access distances, but if stop and line spacing increase other modes such as bicycles might become interesting as an alternative access mode. An analytical model is presented that determines optimal network characteristics, i.e. stop spacing, line spacing, and frequency, and that explicitly accounts for alternative access modes. The objective used is maximising social welfare. Results show that, if cycling is considered as an alternative access mode, all three network characteristics mentioned above should be increased, offering benefits for the traveller, the operator as well as the society. However, if there is a large sub-population of travellers who are not able to use the alternative mode, or if there are barriers for using an alternative mode to access the urban public transport system, it is better to assume that walking is the only access mode available. In the case of cycling as an access mode there are possibilities for positive benefits, at least in countries such as Denmark or the Netherlands. It is expected that for other access modes, such as peoplemovers and demand responsive public transport systems, the barriers are too high to have an impact on urban public transport network design.

  Public transport network design determines the quality for travellers as well as operational costs. Network design is therefore crucial for the cost effectiveness of urban public transport. In urban public transport network design it is commonly assumed that all travellers walk to the stops. This might be true for short access distances, but if stop and line spacing increase other modes such as bicycles might become interesting as an alternative access mode. An analytical model is presented that determines optimal network characteristics, i.e. stop spacing, line spacing, and frequency, and that explicitly accounts for alternative access modes. The objective used is maximising social welfare. Results show that, if cycling is considered as an alternative access mode, all three network characteristics mentioned above should be increased, offering benefits for the traveller, the operator as well as the society. However, if there is a large sub-population of travellers who are not...

  Public transport network design determines the quality for travellers as well as operational costs. Network design is therefore crucial for the cost effectiveness of urban public transport. In urban public transport network design it is commonly assumed that all travellers walk to the stops....

  Rob van Nes

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• Book Review

  Since 1995, Springer Verlag has published the series ‘Advances in Spatial Science’, in which studies have appeared about ‘Sustainable Cities and Energy Policies’ (R. Capello, P. Nijkamp & G. Pepping), Geographical Information and Planning (J. Stillwell, S. Geertman & S. Openshaw, eds.) and ‘Spatial Dynamics of European Integration’ (H.M. Fischer & P. Nijkamp, eds.) and so forth. In 2000, the book ‘Information, Place and Cyberspace. Issues in Accessibility’ appeared, published by Don Janelle and David Hodge. The book was a consequence of a workshop in the context of the Varenius project and funded by the National Science Foundation, held in November 1998 in Pacific Grove (California). The theme of the conference was ‘Measuring and Representing Accessibility in the Information Age’. It was sponsored by the National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis (NCGIA). The objectives of the book are to broaden understanding of conceptual and analytical approaches to accessibility research appropriate to the information age, and to demonstrate possible contributions for geographic information science in representing the geographies of the information society. In seeking to meet these objectives, the editors and authors highlight significant linkages among information resources, traditional places, and cyberspace, and focus on expanding models of space (and time) that encompass both the physical and virtual worlds

  Since 1995, Springer Verlag has published the series ‘Advances in Spatial Science’, in which studies have appeared about ‘Sustainable Cities and Energy Policies’ (R. Capello, P. Nijkamp & G. Pepping), Geographical Information and Planning (J. Stillwell, S. Geertman & S. Openshaw, eds.) and ‘Spatial Dynamics of European Integration’ (H.M. Fischer & P. Nijkamp, eds.) and so forth. In 2000, the book ‘Information, Place and Cyberspace. Issues in Accessibility’ appeared, published by Don Janelle and David Hodge. The book was a consequence of a workshop in the context of the Varenius project and funded by the National Science Foundation, held in November 1998 in Pacific Grove (California). The theme of the conference was ‘Measuring and Representing Accessibility in the Information Age’. It was sponsored by the National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis (NCGIA). The objectives of the book are to broaden understanding of conceptual and...

  Since 1995, Springer Verlag has published the series ‘Advances in Spatial Science’, in which studies have appeared about ‘Sustainable Cities and Energy Policies’ (R. Capello, P. Nijkamp & G. Pepping), Geographical Information and Planning (J. Stillwell, S. Geertman & S....

  Hugo Priemus

  • pdf