Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
2.3.3.1 Road Network
The road network connects the various parts of the city and connects the city
with its surrounding context. Thus, it contributes to the efficiency of the city,
the flow of people and goods, and consequently to the economic cycle.
However, the emphasis on road network design has created not so lively
neighbourhoods. This was expressed by The Prince's Foundation when
examining 'Sustainable Urban Extensions' in the UK, in which the problem
is summarised thus:
House builders place a high priority on complying with rules and guid-
ance on highway engineering. They are anxious that their estates' street
system should be adopted by the local authority with the minimum
of negotiation and delay. Estates are consequently designed around
road layouts based on loops, dead-end spines and cul-de-sacs, whose
principal aim is to handle road traffic as efficiently and safely as possible.
But as well as discouraging travel on foot or by bicycle, these 'roads first-
houses second' designs can damage the harmonious grouping of houses
and visual quality…. [75, p. 1]
2.3.3.2 Transportation
Because a compact city strategy is recommended to be adopted, an emphasis
on the development of rail transport of great accessibility, safety, sustainabil-
ity and environmental friendliness is the main target. In a study conducted
in 25 megacities, the following was found [8]:
1. Transportation is seen as the single biggest infrastructure challenge
by a large margin and is a key factor in city competitiveness.
2. With air pollution and congestion emerging as the two top environ-
mental challenges, stakeholders predict a strong emphasis on mass
transit solutions.
3. Cities are more likely to focus on incremental improvements to exist-
ing infrastructure, rather than on new systems.
4. Demand management is rarely mentioned as a major strategy for
addressing the cities' transport problems.
2.3.3.3 Parking
Parking policy is commonly viewed as a complementary measure to reduce
car use when combined with other initiatives. Sustainability seeks to estab-
lish less reliance than previously existed on private car usage—for example,
by promoting compact urban development in areas well served by good pub-
lic transport. Urban design policy promotes a departure from the 'roads first,
houses later' philosophy (as dictated by many highway standards) to give
