An introduction and background to urban planning – The drawbacks
Professor Nick Reed, Head of mobility research and development at Bosch
The transition to connected and automated vehicles could represent a transport revolution as dramatic as the shift from horses to cars, says Professor Nick Reed, head of mobility research and development at Bosch.
“Urban planners and city authorities are thinking far beyond ‘how can we best get from A to B?’”
These days, such deliberations are more likely to encompass a sophisticated vision of what it means to operate transport services in a city. As such, the question of how we get from A to B must also consider the needs of the population as a whole, taking into account overarching imperatives such as climate change, quality of life, ethical concerns, social equity and aesthetic value.
To provide some context to this debate, it is worth re-assessing the role of the motor car over time. Having been established as the pre-eminent transportation mode in developed countries for more than a century, there’s no doubt that cars have brought independence and prosperity to people, businesses and nations around the world.
Interestingly, though, primary transport routes through cities such as London, Rome and Amsterdam often pre-dated the existence of motor vehicles, developing organically over many years and resulting in convoluted road layouts. Nevertheless, more recently, roads and parking infrastructure have been hugely significant to the foundations of these historic urban areas.
“Easy access to motor transport has had a revolutionary impact on livelihoods”
Traders could access new and larger markets with their goods; workers could access a wider range of employment opportunities; and families could more easily maintain contact and access to healthcare. To maximise these benefits, road systems and infrastructure were adapted to support a wider network of mobility solutions underpinned by motor vehicles.
This included the development of long distance highway networks, roundabouts to improve traffic flow at complex intersections, and signalised junctions to improve traffic management and to help pedestrians to cross busy streets.
“Over 1.3 million people die in road crashes each year, with an additional 20-50 million injured or disabled.”
The Association for Safe International Road Travel
The growth of the motor vehicle industry has also seen the emergence of associated business models. Marketing of cars has evolved to pitch the vehicle as an extension of self, reflecting position and status in the world. Parking and access to congested areas have provided opportunities to generate revenue and manage road use. And in addition to new car sales, the wider motor trade encompasses significant sales through the second-hand car market and creates many employment opportunities through associated sectors including driver training, vehicle maintenance, insurance and aftermarket accessories.
However, there are many aspects of motor vehicles that are tolerated in exchange for all the perceived benefits they can provide, such as road accidents. Whilst huge improvements in safety have been achieved by enhancing vehicle technology, infrastructure, driver training, enforcement and emergency responses, road collisions remain a tragic concern. Nearly 1.3 million people die in road crashes each year, with an additional 20-50 million injured or disabled, according to WHO statistics. Too often, these fatalities and life-changing injuries are recognised as an unfortunate but unavoidable result of driving motor vehicles.
"Implementing smart motorway technology can help to reduce congestion, while new Internet of Things-enabled systems providing route guidance and parking space mapping can help to improve traffic flow"
Congestion is also a significant problem, with resultant delays acting as a self-limiting factor on road use. As congestion increases, the acceptability of the delay may cause road users to reconsider their journey route and transport mode. Meanwhile, highway authorities try to find ways to meet the demand through a range of different mitigations, such as building new roads.
However, relatively lower cost measures such as implementing smart motorway technology can help to reduce congestion, while new Internet of Things-enabled systems providing route guidance and parking space mapping can help to improve traffic flow.
“Vehicles tend to be used for only a small fraction of their lifespan”
Motor vehicle storage is also an issue. Despite being a relatively expensive asset, vehicles tend to be used for only a small fraction of their lifespan, spending the remainder parked on driveways and roadways. Thus, the infrastructure needed for vehicle storage represents a significant adaptation of our society to accommodate the benefits that these vehicles bring.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of Professor Nick Reed's introduction and background to urban planning, outlining the benefits and opportunities in the future.