Relationship between spatial proximity and travel-to-work distance : the effect of the compact city

In this paper, an assessment is made of the relationship between selected aspects of spatial proximity (density, diversity, minimum commuting distance, jobs-housing balance and job accessibility) and reported commuting distances in Flanders (Belgium). Results show that correlations may depend on the considered trip end. For example, a high residential density, a high degree of spatial diversity and a high level of job accessibility are all associated with a short commute by residents, while a high job density is associated with a long commute by employees. A jobs-housing balance close to one is associated with a short commute, both by residents and by employees. In general, it appears that the alleged sustainability benefits of the compact city model are still valid in a context of continuously expanding commuting trip lengths

Providing Care From Afar: A Growing Yet Understudied Phenomenon in the Caregiving Field

Given the aging population and increasing life expectancy, the need on the part of older and ill populations for long-term care has risen rapidly (Roth et al., 2015). As a result, unpaid informal care is becoming even more important for health and social care delivery worldwide. Informal care refers to the provision of unpaid care to a relative or friend with a chronic illness, disability, or other long-lasting health needs (Revenson et al., 2016). A substantial body of literature has documented the psychosocial and physical consequences of the caregiving role. Recent studies have reported caregiver burden and strain as a multidimensional response to the psychological, physical, and financial stressors associated with the caregiving experience (Chiao et al., 2015; Faronbi et al., 2019). Emotional distress, anxiety, and impaired self-care are also commonplace among caregivers, attributed to the caregiving demands engendered by the care recipient's illness (Schulz et al., 2008; Bauer and Sousa-Poza, 2015)

LUD as an Instrument for (Sub)Metropolitanization: The 1000-District in Rishon-Lezion, Israel as a Case Study

Interest in the role of large urban development (LUD) projects in regeneration efforts of cities has risen in recent years. Studies of their planning process have often focused on global cities, examining challenges associated with their joint (public–private) governance structure, as well as those emanating from the need to balance local and global needs and interests. With few exceptions, the ways in which these projects fit in with metropolitan aspirations of small and medium cities were largely overlooked. In this article, we explore how a large-scale project was used by local authorities to reposition a secondary city as a sub-metropolitan center. Using the case of the 1000-District (Mitcham HaElef) in the Israeli city of Rishon-Lezion, it argues that while the project was originally designed to resolve the city’s scarce employment problem, it was gradually used to endow it with higher-order urban qualities, re-situating it as a sub-metropolitan center in the Tel-Aviv area. To support our argument, we focus on the project’s housing and employment components, including changes they were subjected to along the planning process, as well as the marketing campaign, which sought to re-present the city as a viable sub-metropolitan alternative. Drawing on qualitative methods, including personal interviews and content analysis, the article illustrates how one city’s large project is instrumentalized to attain metro-scale objectives. In so doing, it contributes to a nuanced understanding of the complexity of LUD planning, its stated objectives at various scales, and implications for actors in and beyond metropolitan jurisdictions

A method for evaluating transport energy consumption in suburban areas

peer reviewedUrban sprawl is a major issue for sustainable development. It represents a significant contribution to energy consumption of a territory especially due to transportation requirements. However, transport energy consumption is rarely taken into account when the sustainability of suburban structures is studied. In this context, the paper presents a method to estimate transport energy consumption in residential suburban areas. The study aimed, on this basis, at highlighting the most efficient strategies needed to promote awareness and to give practical hints on how to reduce transport energy consumption linked to urban sprawl in existing and future suburban neighborhoods. The method uses data collected by using empirical surveys and GIS. An application of this method is presented concerning the comparison of four suburban districts located in Belgium to demonstrate the advantages of the approach. The influence of several parameters, such as distance to work places and services, use of public transport and performance of the vehicles, are then discussed to allow a range of different development situations to be explored. The results of the case studies highlight that travelled distances, and thus a good mix between activities at the living area scale, are of primordial importance for the energy performance, whereas means of transport used is only of little impact. Improving the performance of the vehicles and favoring home-work give also significant energy savings. The method can be used when planning new areas or retrofitting existing ones, as well as promoting more sustainable life styles regarding transport habits.SAFE (Suburban Areas Favoring Energy efficiency

Mobility and accessibility concerns for tourists in Tel Aviv-Jaffa area

This research aims to study the mobility and accessibility challenges tourists confront within a central tourist district. The subjects of mobility and accessibility have been studied extensively, particularly in relation to individual commu-ting flows, or shopping. However, for both commuting and shopping activities, individuals are dealing with a familiar area. On the other hand, the tourist’s spatial experience occurs in a far less known environment and has less been examined. The study focuses on the domestic tourist experience in the Tel-Aviv-Jaffa area. In depth face-to-face interviews were conducted to evaluate how considerations of spatial mobility and accessibility are perceived among domestic tourists in comparison to other aspects of the tourist experience. In addition, interviews with planners and policy makers on the municipal and national levels were conducted to evaluate the services given to tourists, existing and future plans, and the care for tourists’ needs. The research depicts that the spatial mobility challenges tourists face have a great influence on tourist satisfaction, even greater than the tourist product itself. Moreover, the study points to the correlation between land-use density in tourist places of residence and their perception of spatial challenges

For whom the trains roll? An equity analysis of rail enhancement in Israel

Rail has enjoyed somewhat of a renaissance in recent decades, with substantial new investments made therein. Justification oftentimes rests on rail’s non-transport benefits, particularly the idea of opening-up new prospects for the carless. While many studies focus on accessibility to opportunities, this study attempts to evaluate the equity of investments. To that end, it is particularly pertinent to assess the degree to which rail is accessible to the carless, to identify exactly who benefits from the investment in rail, and who does not. As inter-city rail is inherently spatially inequitable, feeder bus services are sometimes added to mitigate these inequities. In this paper, we analyzed the equity facets of the enhancement of inter-city rail, including feeder bus services, in Israel, by examining the siting of rail stations, and mapping out all bus routes reaching heavy rail stations nationwide. Subsequently, we analyzed the attributes of the cities and towns serviced by rail, and of the population residing near bus stops on the feeder routes, as well as the frequency of service in those stops. Access to inter-urban rail in Israel was investigated, in terms of equity, at an unprecedented level of detail, thereby enabling us to assess which population groups stand to potentially benefit from the very substantial current investments in rail. We found that the Arab minority benefits the least, with adverse implications on women’s motility, largely due to limited bus feeder lines to the rail system

Spatial Planning as a driver of change in mobility and residential energy consumption

This paper analyses the impact of territorial structures upon energy consumption in the Walloon Region (Belgium). The rationale for this research is to consider the long-term influence of spatial planning decisions upon energy consumption in both residential building stock and home-to-work commuting. The analysis has been conducted on a regional scale (16,844 km2) and includes urban, peri-urban and rural settlements. Those settlements that perform well in mobility also appear to perform well in terms of building energy consumption. Even though this is not generally the case, it further reveals that some rural settlements characterized by low density show good performance in terms of energy efficiency. This permits a much more progressive approach in terms of spatial planning, whereby compact cities may be viewed as part of the solution, albeit not the whole solution.CPDT - Thème 2D Structuration du territoire et émissions de GE