published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Architecture

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Architecture

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Architecture

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2001.

The planning concept "15-minute city" has in recent years become a popular model, after which, for example, Mayor Anne Hidalgo plans and builds Paris. The model advocates a set time limit (15 minutes) during which the inhabitants of the city and the neighbourhood must be able to reach their daily nodes and needs by walking or cycling. Despite the name 15-minute city, the focus is not on zealously keeping this limit, but on the fact that all residents are being able to live locally in their neighbourhood. In the 15- minute city, car-use is greatly reduced, and the preferred means of transport are walking and cycling. However, the concept, which according to its author Carlos Moreno will generate better health and a more sustainable city, has been heavily criticized for contributing to gentrification and making unreasonable demands on the built environment. Similar concepts are implemented all over the world, for example in Munich, where this master's thesis has its point of departure. The purpose of the investigation is to be able to contribute to an ongoing debate about 15-minute cities and integrated neighbourhoods. More specifically, the purpose of this study is threefold: (1) identify strengths and weaknesses of the concept, (2) identify challenges that implementation of the concept may encounter in Munich and (3) identify challenges that implementation of the concept may encounter in three areas of varying character in Munich. Two of the areas already exist, one central and one peripheral, and the third area is being built according to the principles of an integrated local neighbourhood. The investigation has been carried out through a case study and the empirical material has been analysed through qualitative content analysis. Theories on what constitutes safe and lively streets and neighbourhoods as well as on how to construct long-lasting public spaces have been used as the theoretical framework. The results show that strengths with the concept include inherent resilience, an acceleration of the shift to sustainable transport, and that the concept appeals to a broad mass. Risks include a reduced desire to build in a recession, an imbalance in the distribution of resources and the concept per se being vaguely defined. The results also show that the high housing prices in Munich may make it more difficult for an implementation of the 15-minute city and that the built environment and public transport are deficient, which makes the implementation of the 15-minute city costly. Finally, the results show that the nature of the different areas generates different challenges. For example, the results indicate that the central area's biggest challenge is lacking infrastructure and political will, while the more peripheral area will be struggling to attract “urban amenities” and the area under construction is facing extensive difficulties in coordinating actors.

After the breakthrough of the personal car in the early 20th century many cities were planned with the idea that every person should use their own car for transportation within the city. Highways were built, splitting neighborhoods straight through. However, car is a very space inefficient mode of transportation, and the roads and parking lots make other modes of transportation unpleasant. Therefore, it is a bad mode of transportation in cities, where space is valuable and an efficient land use prominent to create a safe, well-functioning and living city. This essay investigate what factors are most important when redesigning roads to encourage a usage of more sustainable modes of transportations, such as biking, walking and public transportation. By collecting previous studies, six themes (travel time, barrier, attractiveness, safety, security, acceptance) were chosen to be used in a thematic analysis of a traffic investigation by the consultant firm Trivector ordered by the council of Umeå. The traffic investigation analyzes how to rebuild a previous thoroughfare avenue through the city center to a more livable place. The purpose is to prioritize sustainable mode of transportation and minimize the number of cars using the road (but still allowing them to). The thematic analysis concluded that the traffic investigation was mostly suggesting measures that focused on changing the travel time between the means of transportation (in favor of biking and public transportation). It also suggested a lot of measures to increase the attractiveness of the roads for people walking. Traffic security was treated mostly by mentioning its importance. Safety concerns was regarded as something that was improved by the attractiveness of the area, since a more crowded area makes the place feel safer. Acceptance was not mentioned at all in the investigation.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Architecture / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Mechanical Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

Master of Landscape Architecture / Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional & Community Planning / Katie Kingery-Page / Many cities in the United States have developed into auto-dominated places with decreased accessibility for pedestrians and bleak cityscapes of wide, barrier-like streets. While many studies exist on the correlation between street width and vehicular safety, and vehicular speed and pedestrian safety, little information is available on the correlation between street width and pedestrian safety. This project began while the researcher interned with the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) Pedestrian Projects Group (PPG). The researcher was asked to begin a study of New York City (NYC) streets, specifically analyzing the relationship between street width and pedestrian safety using NYC safety data. The street types studied represent a variety of conditions found in many cities. The exploratory correlation study, completed after returning to Kansas State University, found that narrow streets trend towards higher safety. The correlation study between street width and pedestrian safety provides justification to narrow Bluemont Avenue in Manhattan, Kansas and increase pedestrian safety. Bluemont Avenue is a primary vehicular connection between the east and west sides of Manhattan. The city’s future construction plans propose widening the street to accommodate a center turning lane along the entire length of Bluemont Avenue. The research presented in this report supports the hypothesis that narrower streets are safer for pedestrians. By utilizing the results of the study, a designer can strengthen their argument to narrow wide, auto-dominated streets. In addition, the use of a two-stage design process can create a safer environment for pedestrians on Bluemont Avenue. By utilizing a temporary design followed by a permanent installation, the City of Manhattan can decrease the priority of Bluemont Avenue within the vehicle hierarchy and increase pedestrian safety. The intent of this report is to begin a conversation with the City of Manhattan to begin looking at streets not as mere vehicular paths, but paths for all modes of transit.