The Three Stages of Accessibility: The Coming Challenge of Urban Mobility

Abstract

Purpose – Urban transport policies are about to undergo major changes. In cities where, a few years ago, highway projects were favoured (i.e. the first stage of accessibility), other priorities are taking shape. Many large cities have opted for the development of public transit (i.e. the second stage of accessibility). Car travel would seem no longer to have any priority, despite the fact that it still accounts for bulk of transportation.

Methodology – This chapter sheds light on these new tendencies by referring to the long-established concept of accessibility, and especially gravity-based accessibility, which is enjoying a new lease of life. Introducing accessibility measures within GIS tools helps us to understand why public policies are now addressing new challenges.

Findings – The third stage of accessibility is characterised by a lower role given to individual time gains. A new approach is coming that pursues the collective interest by optimising land use.

Research limitations/implications – In order to have the best understanding of what is at stake within the third stage of accessibility; researchers have to propose map-based tools showing the concrete impacts of accessibility changes.

Practical and social implications – Those maps can show that in some cases, even transit speed can lead to some perverse effects like urban dispersion, longer distances commuted and even increased travel time budget.

Originality – Sustainability issues are underlining the fact that accessibility improvements have to be obtained rather by denser catchment areas of trips than by increasing the size of the catchment areas.

Citation

CROZET, Y. (2012), "The Three Stages of Accessibility: The Coming Challenge of Urban Mobility", Mackett, R.L., May, A.D., Kii, M. and Pan, H. (Ed.) Sustainable Transport for Chinese Cities (Transport and Sustainability, Vol. 3), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 79-97. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2044-9941(2012)0000003006