Sustainable Urban Mobility: Challenges, Initiatives and Planning
- 1 Department of Architecture, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, India
Abstract
The growth of cities is not spontaneous and uncontrollable but guided and shaped by human interaction and by physical infrastructure. However, urban expansion around the world is characterised by uncontrolled urban sprawl leading to inefficient use of space and natural resources. Interactions between humans and opportunities for innovations are constrained by low density and social segregation. For the cities and towns to function efficiently, accessibility is essential to carry the goods and for services. But accessible cities are being encouraged to shift towards more sustainable modes of transportation and draw more travelers in different modes of transport including sidewalks. Mobility is about more than just the mode of transport available. Urban planning and design should focus on how to bring people and places together, by creating cities that focus on accessibility and optimal urban densities, rather than simply increasing the length of urban transport infrastructure. This paper gives a brief review of urban planning initiatives taken by government of Indian towards a sustainable urban mobility plans and outlines urban planning challenges for the local urban bodies, urban designers and policy makers.
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