<p>Centrally located problem areas of today, with suburban-like modernist architecture, are an anomaly in Sweden. The purpose of the present study is to investigate this Swedish anomaly by comparing three such city sections – Norrby in Borås, Nyfors in Eskilstuna and Öster in Gävle – and to try to answer the question: what type of case is this? To answer this question, a theoretical perspective distinguishing habitation, population and images is developed using concepts from Bourdieu, Elias and Scotson, Goffman, Lefebvre and Østerberg. Methodologically, this is a detailed comparative case study of the history of these three city sections in three or four phases, from before to after their thorough urban renewal in the 1960s. Once, these habitations developed in concert with their city into a working-class area, just beside the city centre, but beyond the railway station. After WWII, they became subjects of renewal, thus afflicted by a slum process that preceded demolition. The new habitation was planned for housing a working-class population. Suburban-like in shape, it was nevertheless part of an inner-city renewal. The new habitation became a target for critique already during the renewal process, a critique that was cast in the same terms as the critique of the suburbs of the time: Images of poor and troublesome outdoor milieus, social problems of different kinds, empty apartments, high turn over, immigrants and refugees were produced, in the media but also by the inhabitants and their organizations, giving the city section a bad reputation. This was to last until the present. Yet with new investment in attractive housing in adjacent brown field areas, these areas have once again become the subject of renewal. Consequently, these areas can be identified as a case of a good location with a bad reputation, emerging from the inner-city renewal of a former working-class habitation.</p>

Centrally located problem areas of today, with suburban-like modernist architecture, are an anomaly in Sweden. The purpose of the present study is to investigate this Swedish anomaly by comparing three such city sections – Norrby in Borås, Nyfors in Eskilstuna and Öster in Gävle – and to try to answer the question: what type of case is this? To answer this question, a theoretical perspective distinguishing habitation, population and images is developed using concepts from Bourdieu, Elias and Scotson, Goffman, Lefebvre and Østerberg. Methodologically, this is a detailed comparative case study of the history of these three city sections in three or four phases, from before to after their thorough urban renewal in the 1960s. Once, these habitations developed in concert with their city into a working-class area, just beside the city centre, but beyond the railway station. After WWII, they became subjects of renewal, thus afflicted by a slum process that preceded demolition. The new habitation was planned for housing a working-class population. Suburban-like in shape, it was nevertheless part of an inner-city renewal. The new habitation became a target for critique already during the renewal process, a critique that was cast in the same terms as the critique of the suburbs of the time: Images of poor and troublesome outdoor milieus, social problems of different kinds, empty apartments, high turn over, immigrants and refugees were produced, in the media but also by the inhabitants and their organizations, giving the city section a bad reputation. This was to last until the present. Yet with new investment in attractive housing in adjacent brown field areas, these areas have once again become the subject of renewal. Consequently, these areas can be identified as a case of a good location with a bad reputation, emerging from the inner-city renewal of a former working-class habitation.

O estudo tem como objetivo entender de que forma o processo de segregação sócio-espacial repercute sobre os municípios metropolitanos, especialmente em Alvorada, localizado na Região Metropolitana de Porto Alegre (RMPA), Rio Grande do Sul, acarretando problemas característicos do espaço urbano. Para tanto, o trabalho inicia analisando como o município de Alvorada se constitui como espaço de segregação econômica e social, assumindo a função habitacional dentro da hierarquia urbana da RMPA. Entendido o papel que Alvorada cumpre dentro da RMPA, busca-se compreender de que modo a relação de segregação determinou a configuração do espaço intra-urbano do município, produzindo/reproduzindo relações de segregação espacial. A partir da articulação entre as relações de segregação sócio-espacial a nível metropolitano e intra-urbano, o trabalho analisa os problemas urbanos ligados à questão habitacional, ambiental e ao fenômeno da violência e de que forma o processo de reestruturação da RMPA maximiza ou minimiza tais problemas. Com a pesquisa se concluiu que a reestruturação da RMPA abre duas novas perspectivas para o município de Alvorada, contraditórias, mas complementares entre si: a melhoria das condições gerais de vida pela maior inserção econômica de Alvorada dentro da hierarquia urbana da RMPA, ao mesmo tempo em que incorpora novas e mais intensas relações de segregação sócioespacial em seu espaço intra-urbano. / The study has as objective to understand how the process of urban social space segregation repercute on the metropolitan counties, especially in Alvorada, located in the Metropolitan Region of Porto Alegre (MRPA), Rio Grande do Sul, causing characteristic problems of the urban space. For that matter, the study begins analyzing how the Alvorada County constitutes itself as a space of economic and social segregation, assuming the habitational function within the urban hierarchy of MRPA. Once it is understood the role that Alvorada accomplishes inside of the MRPA, it is able to seek the comprehension about in which way the segregation relationship determined the configuration of the internal urban space of the County, producing/reproducing relationships of space segregation. Starting from the articulation among the relations of social space segregation at metropolitan and internal urban level, the present study analyzes the urban problems related to the habitational and environmental issues and to the phenomenon of the violence. It analyzes also in which way the restructuring process of the MRPA maximizes or minimizes the problems mentioned earlier. It is possible to conclude with the research that the restructuring of the MRPA opens two new perspectives to the Alvorada County, contradictories, but complementary among each other: the improvement of the general conditions of life by a larger economic insertion of Alvorada inside the urban hierarchy of MRPA, in the same time that the County acquires new and more intense relations of social space segregation in its internal urban space.

O estudo tem como objetivo entender de que forma o processo de segregação sócio-espacial repercute sobre os municípios metropolitanos, especialmente em Alvorada, localizado na Região Metropolitana de Porto Alegre (RMPA), Rio Grande do Sul, acarretando problemas característicos do espaço urbano. Para tanto, o trabalho inicia analisando como o município de Alvorada se constitui como espaço de segregação econômica e social, assumindo a função habitacional dentro da hierarquia urbana da RMPA. Entendido o papel que Alvorada cumpre dentro da RMPA, busca-se compreender de que modo a relação de segregação determinou a configuração do espaço intra-urbano do município, produzindo/reproduzindo relações de segregação espacial. A partir da articulação entre as relações de segregação sócio-espacial a nível metropolitano e intra-urbano, o trabalho analisa os problemas urbanos ligados à questão habitacional, ambiental e ao fenômeno da violência e de que forma o processo de reestruturação da RMPA maximiza ou minimiza tais problemas. Com a pesquisa se concluiu que a reestruturação da RMPA abre duas novas perspectivas para o município de Alvorada, contraditórias, mas complementares entre si: a melhoria das condições gerais de vida pela maior inserção econômica de Alvorada dentro da hierarquia urbana da RMPA, ao mesmo tempo em que incorpora novas e mais intensas relações de segregação sócioespacial em seu espaço intra-urbano. / The study has as objective to understand how the process of urban social space segregation repercute on the metropolitan counties, especially in Alvorada, located in the Metropolitan Region of Porto Alegre (MRPA), Rio Grande do Sul, causing characteristic problems of the urban space. For that matter, the study begins analyzing how the Alvorada County constitutes itself as a space of economic and social segregation, assuming the habitational function within the urban hierarchy of MRPA. Once it is understood the role that Alvorada accomplishes inside of the MRPA, it is able to seek the comprehension about in which way the segregation relationship determined the configuration of the internal urban space of the County, producing/reproducing relationships of space segregation. Starting from the articulation among the relations of social space segregation at metropolitan and internal urban level, the present study analyzes the urban problems related to the habitational and environmental issues and to the phenomenon of the violence. It analyzes also in which way the restructuring process of the MRPA maximizes or minimizes the problems mentioned earlier. It is possible to conclude with the research that the restructuring of the MRPA opens two new perspectives to the Alvorada County, contradictories, but complementary among each other: the improvement of the general conditions of life by a larger economic insertion of Alvorada inside the urban hierarchy of MRPA, in the same time that the County acquires new and more intense relations of social space segregation in its internal urban space.

O estudo tem como objetivo entender de que forma o processo de segregação sócio-espacial repercute sobre os municípios metropolitanos, especialmente em Alvorada, localizado na Região Metropolitana de Porto Alegre (RMPA), Rio Grande do Sul, acarretando problemas característicos do espaço urbano. Para tanto, o trabalho inicia analisando como o município de Alvorada se constitui como espaço de segregação econômica e social, assumindo a função habitacional dentro da hierarquia urbana da RMPA. Entendido o papel que Alvorada cumpre dentro da RMPA, busca-se compreender de que modo a relação de segregação determinou a configuração do espaço intra-urbano do município, produzindo/reproduzindo relações de segregação espacial. A partir da articulação entre as relações de segregação sócio-espacial a nível metropolitano e intra-urbano, o trabalho analisa os problemas urbanos ligados à questão habitacional, ambiental e ao fenômeno da violência e de que forma o processo de reestruturação da RMPA maximiza ou minimiza tais problemas. Com a pesquisa se concluiu que a reestruturação da RMPA abre duas novas perspectivas para o município de Alvorada, contraditórias, mas complementares entre si: a melhoria das condições gerais de vida pela maior inserção econômica de Alvorada dentro da hierarquia urbana da RMPA, ao mesmo tempo em que incorpora novas e mais intensas relações de segregação sócioespacial em seu espaço intra-urbano. / The study has as objective to understand how the process of urban social space segregation repercute on the metropolitan counties, especially in Alvorada, located in the Metropolitan Region of Porto Alegre (MRPA), Rio Grande do Sul, causing characteristic problems of the urban space. For that matter, the study begins analyzing how the Alvorada County constitutes itself as a space of economic and social segregation, assuming the habitational function within the urban hierarchy of MRPA. Once it is understood the role that Alvorada accomplishes inside of the MRPA, it is able to seek the comprehension about in which way the segregation relationship determined the configuration of the internal urban space of the County, producing/reproducing relationships of space segregation. Starting from the articulation among the relations of social space segregation at metropolitan and internal urban level, the present study analyzes the urban problems related to the habitational and environmental issues and to the phenomenon of the violence. It analyzes also in which way the restructuring process of the MRPA maximizes or minimizes the problems mentioned earlier. It is possible to conclude with the research that the restructuring of the MRPA opens two new perspectives to the Alvorada County, contradictories, but complementary among each other: the improvement of the general conditions of life by a larger economic insertion of Alvorada inside the urban hierarchy of MRPA, in the same time that the County acquires new and more intense relations of social space segregation in its internal urban space.

Os problemas ambientais são cada vez mais comuns e de magnitudes e escalas variadas, atingindo principalmente as áreas urbanas. Poluição atmosférica e dos corpos dágua, deslizamentos de encostas e enchentes são alguns dessas situações adversas. São Gonçalo não foge á regra. Localizada na Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro, essa cidade sofre com as situações exemplificadas, principalmente em relação a degradação dos rios urbanos e as enchentes que acometem algumas áreas do município. Partindo-se da problemática exposta, a presente pesquisa tem como objetivo principal promover uma discussão teórica e reflexiva sobre a importância da efetivação da educação ambiental com foco na bacia hidrográfica urbana, tomando-se a bacia hidrográfica do rio Imboassú no município de São Gonçalo (RJ), como recorte. A fundamentação metodológica deste trabalho está pautada na análise ambiental que prioriza a participação pública e a educação ambiental no processo de planejamento e gestão, visando minimizar as diversas situações de desequilíbrio e degradação que acometem a bacia. A operacionalização deu-se do seguinte modo: análise inicial a partir da sistematização de estudos diagnósticos e de consultas de documentos, relatórios, dentre outros de órgãos governamentais; análise intermediária a partir da observação em campo do atual estado de degradação da bacia hidrográfica do rio Imboassú e da identificação do conjunto de políticas públicas vigentes; análise integrada análise dos estudos diagnósticos, análise da situação atual da bacia (in loco e documental), análise final com identificação de lacunas de gestão e propostas viáveis no âmbito da educação ambiental. Verificou-se que essa bacia está urbanizada e os rios que a compõem descaracterizados e poluídos, com histórico de enchentes. Falta de ordenamento urbano, degradação ambiental e descaso do poder público são alguns problemas enfrentados pelos moradores dessa bacia, resultando na falta de ordenamento territorial urbano e falta de qualidade de vida da população. Diante do exposto, fica claro a necessidade de se criar mecanismos que amenizem essa degradação e tragam equilíbrio ao funcionamento e dinâmica da bacia, influenciando positivamente o dia-a-dia da população residente em seu interior. Um eficiente caminho para promover essa mudança é a educação ambiental como ferramenta para a transformação da sociedade, conscientizando-a de seu papel participativo e modificando a maneira como esta se relaciona com o meio ambiente. Verificou-se que na prática, na bacia do Imboassú, o poder público não efetiva os pressupostos presentes, tanto na legislação ambiental, quanto no plano diretor municipal e alguns órgãos (CEDAE, INEA, SEMMA) não atuam de forma satisfatória. Logo, levantar a discussão da importância da Educação Ambiental como política pública a ser promovida pelos gestores municipais e apontar para a participação e atuação da sociedade de forma crítica na estruturação do espaço urbano é de extrema importância para promover melhoria na relação sociedade meio ambiente. / Environmental problems are increasingly common and varying magnitudes and scales, affecting mainly the urban areas. Air pollution and water bodies, landslidesand floods are some of these adverse situations. São Gonçalo is no exception. Located in the Metropolitan Region of Rio de Janeiro, the city has exemplified with situations, especially in relation to degradation of urban rivers and floods affectingsome areas of the city. Based on the problems exposed, this research has as main objective to promote a reflective and theoretical discussion about the importance of effective environmental education with a focus on urban watershed, taking the river basin Imboassú in São Gonçalo ( RJ), such as clipping. The methodological foundation of this work is based in the environmental analysis that prioritizes environmental education and public participation in planning and management in order to minimize the number of imbalances and degradation that affect the basin. The operation took place as follows: initial analysis from the systematic diagnostic studies and consultation documents, reports, among other government agencies; interim analysis from the field observation of the current state of degradation of river basin Imboassú and identify the set of policies in force, integrated analysis - analysis of diagnostic studies, analyzing the current situation of the basin (on-site and documentary), the final analysis to identify gaps in management and viable proposals in the context of environmental education. It was found that the basin is urbanized and the rivers that make up the defaced and polluted, with a history of flooding. Lack of urban planning, environmental degradation and neglect of the public are some problems faced by residents of the basin, resulting in the disorder and lack of urban land quality of life. In this light, it is clear the need to create mechanisms that mitigate this degradation and bring balance to the function and dynamics of the basin, positively influencing the lives of the residents inside. An efficient way to promote such change is the environmental education as a basis for transformation of society, making them aware of their role in participatory and modifying the way it relates to the environment. It was found that in practice the government did not effectively present the assumptions, both in environmental legislation, as in the municipal master plan and some organs (CEDAE, INEA, SEMMA) do not work satisfactorily. So raise the discussion of the importance of environmental education as public policy to be promoted by municipal and point to the participation and performance in a critical society in the structuring of urban space is extremely important to promote better value society - environment

Os problemas ambientais são cada vez mais comuns e de magnitudes e escalas variadas, atingindo principalmente as áreas urbanas. Poluição atmosférica e dos corpos dágua, deslizamentos de encostas e enchentes são alguns dessas situações adversas. São Gonçalo não foge á regra. Localizada na Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro, essa cidade sofre com as situações exemplificadas, principalmente em relação a degradação dos rios urbanos e as enchentes que acometem algumas áreas do município. Partindo-se da problemática exposta, a presente pesquisa tem como objetivo principal promover uma discussão teórica e reflexiva sobre a importância da efetivação da educação ambiental com foco na bacia hidrográfica urbana, tomando-se a bacia hidrográfica do rio Imboassú no município de São Gonçalo (RJ), como recorte. A fundamentação metodológica deste trabalho está pautada na análise ambiental que prioriza a participação pública e a educação ambiental no processo de planejamento e gestão, visando minimizar as diversas situações de desequilíbrio e degradação que acometem a bacia. A operacionalização deu-se do seguinte modo: análise inicial a partir da sistematização de estudos diagnósticos e de consultas de documentos, relatórios, dentre outros de órgãos governamentais; análise intermediária a partir da observação em campo do atual estado de degradação da bacia hidrográfica do rio Imboassú e da identificação do conjunto de políticas públicas vigentes; análise integrada análise dos estudos diagnósticos, análise da situação atual da bacia (in loco e documental), análise final com identificação de lacunas de gestão e propostas viáveis no âmbito da educação ambiental. Verificou-se que essa bacia está urbanizada e os rios que a compõem descaracterizados e poluídos, com histórico de enchentes. Falta de ordenamento urbano, degradação ambiental e descaso do poder público são alguns problemas enfrentados pelos moradores dessa bacia, resultando na falta de ordenamento territorial urbano e falta de qualidade de vida da população. Diante do exposto, fica claro a necessidade de se criar mecanismos que amenizem essa degradação e tragam equilíbrio ao funcionamento e dinâmica da bacia, influenciando positivamente o dia-a-dia da população residente em seu interior. Um eficiente caminho para promover essa mudança é a educação ambiental como ferramenta para a transformação da sociedade, conscientizando-a de seu papel participativo e modificando a maneira como esta se relaciona com o meio ambiente. Verificou-se que na prática, na bacia do Imboassú, o poder público não efetiva os pressupostos presentes, tanto na legislação ambiental, quanto no plano diretor municipal e alguns órgãos (CEDAE, INEA, SEMMA) não atuam de forma satisfatória. Logo, levantar a discussão da importância da Educação Ambiental como política pública a ser promovida pelos gestores municipais e apontar para a participação e atuação da sociedade de forma crítica na estruturação do espaço urbano é de extrema importância para promover melhoria na relação sociedade meio ambiente. / Environmental problems are increasingly common and varying magnitudes and scales, affecting mainly the urban areas. Air pollution and water bodies, landslidesand floods are some of these adverse situations. São Gonçalo is no exception. Located in the Metropolitan Region of Rio de Janeiro, the city has exemplified with situations, especially in relation to degradation of urban rivers and floods affectingsome areas of the city. Based on the problems exposed, this research has as main objective to promote a reflective and theoretical discussion about the importance of effective environmental education with a focus on urban watershed, taking the river basin Imboassú in São Gonçalo ( RJ), such as clipping. The methodological foundation of this work is based in the environmental analysis that prioritizes environmental education and public participation in planning and management in order to minimize the number of imbalances and degradation that affect the basin. The operation took place as follows: initial analysis from the systematic diagnostic studies and consultation documents, reports, among other government agencies; interim analysis from the field observation of the current state of degradation of river basin Imboassú and identify the set of policies in force, integrated analysis - analysis of diagnostic studies, analyzing the current situation of the basin (on-site and documentary), the final analysis to identify gaps in management and viable proposals in the context of environmental education. It was found that the basin is urbanized and the rivers that make up the defaced and polluted, with a history of flooding. Lack of urban planning, environmental degradation and neglect of the public are some problems faced by residents of the basin, resulting in the disorder and lack of urban land quality of life. In this light, it is clear the need to create mechanisms that mitigate this degradation and bring balance to the function and dynamics of the basin, positively influencing the lives of the residents inside. An efficient way to promote such change is the environmental education as a basis for transformation of society, making them aware of their role in participatory and modifying the way it relates to the environment. It was found that in practice the government did not effectively present the assumptions, both in environmental legislation, as in the municipal master plan and some organs (CEDAE, INEA, SEMMA) do not work satisfactorily. So raise the discussion of the importance of environmental education as public policy to be promoted by municipal and point to the participation and performance in a critical society in the structuring of urban space is extremely important to promote better value society - environment

The introduction of the private vehicle in urban communities (towns and cities) resulted in numerous urban problems experienced in the developed and developing world. These include, inter alia, economic inefficiency due to traffic congestion; a high mortality rate relevant to vehicle users and non-vehicle users; air & noise pollution and overall poor quality of life for residents. As part of the literature review, it was found that the level of urban problems experienced will intensify and worsen, if sustainable transportation systems were not introduced in urban areas. These predictions were made based on the following three factors: * The increase of the world population – It was predicated that the world population will increase by 2.3 people billion between 2011 and 2050. The total world population is therefore expected to be 9.3 billion in 2050. * The urbanisation rate experienced – It was predicated that the entire world population growth, along with an additional 300 million people, will be absorbed by urban areas between 2011 and 2050. Urban communities will therefore accommodate 6.2 billion people, or 67% of the world population, in 2050. * The level and growth in private vehicle ownership – The developed world consists of a high level of vehicles per 1 000 residents (655 in 2010), but experienced a decline in growth of 0,8% between 2005 and 2010. Contrary to the developed world, the developing world had a low level of vehicle ownership per 1 000 residents (128 in 2010), but experienced an increase of 21.9% between 2005 and 2010. Apart from the above data, the literature review introduced planning theories and international as well as national policies. The three planning theories that were researched each revealed ten principles of sustainable alternative transportation measures for an unsustainable private vehicle orientated urban area. These sustainable measures were used to introduce the option of a sustainable non-motorised transportation system to the demarcated study area. The three planning theories researched were: * The Smart growth theory * New urbanism, and * Pedestrian mall developments. International and national policies were scrutinised to obtain a point-of-view on how different countries, cities, spheres of government and type of documentation addressed non-motorised transportation developments. The examination of the policies also provided insight on how South African spheres of government were addressing non-motorised transportation in South African urban communities, if at all. The international policies include the “Share the road” document compiled by the United Nations in 2010; Mount Rainier Town Centre Urban Renewal Plan (2005) (USA) and Ottawa’s Transport Master Plan (2008) (Canada). The South African policies included the National Non-motorised Transportation Policy (2008); National Transport Master Plan (2011); Northern Cape Provincial Spatial Development Framework (2012) and //Khara Hais Spatial Development Framework (2012) (local municipality). Following the literature review, is an empirical study consisting of 2 sections. Firstly, a pilot study, which consists of international and local examples, was researched. These examples were identified as they consist of vehicle-free areas within the central business district. The success of the vehicle-free developments was measured and the information utilised to guide recommendations for the demarcated study area within the town of Upington (case study). Pilot study examples include Copenhagen, Denmark; Ghent, Belgium; Santa Monica, USA and Cape Town, South Africa. Secondly, a case study was analysed. A study area within the South African town of Upington, Northern Cape Province was demarcated. The status quo of relevant aspects, including but not limited to; the climate, coverage, parking, road hierarchy and transport modes were obtained and analysed. This analysis was conducted in order to establish a) if the study area experienced urban transport related problems and b) if the implementation of a non-motorised transport system will be more sustainable for the general public of Upington, as opposed to the current private-vehicle dependable system. Inputs from Town Planners were also obtained in order to obtain a multi-dimensional point-of-view. In the conclusion of the researched study it was found that a) the planning theories have been successfully implemented in the examples of the pilot studies and therefore these principles could apply to the demarcated study area in Upington. b) International policies addressed non-motorisation developments more comprehensively than the South African policies. Shortages especially existed at the provincial and local spheres of government where implementation should take place. c) Through the analysis of the case study it become evident that the demarcated study area within Upington was burdened by private vehicle orientated transport problems. However, the analysis also indicated that the study area has the potential to make a successful transition from being dependable on unsustainable private vehicles to sustainable non-motorised transportation. Finally, tailor-made recommendations (based on information derived from planning theories, policies, pilot study and case study) were made for the study area situated within Upington. These recommendations include the phased development of a pedestrian-only area, the development of parking garages (outside the pedestrian area), which are linked to the pedestrian-only area and the development of a public transportation system by means of busses. / MArt et Scien (Urban and Regional Planning), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The introduction of the private vehicle in urban communities (towns and cities) resulted in numerous urban problems experienced in the developed and developing world. These include, inter alia, economic inefficiency due to traffic congestion; a high mortality rate relevant to vehicle users and non-vehicle users; air & noise pollution and overall poor quality of life for residents. As part of the literature review, it was found that the level of urban problems experienced will intensify and worsen, if sustainable transportation systems were not introduced in urban areas. These predictions were made based on the following three factors: * The increase of the world population – It was predicated that the world population will increase by 2.3 people billion between 2011 and 2050. The total world population is therefore expected to be 9.3 billion in 2050. * The urbanisation rate experienced – It was predicated that the entire world population growth, along with an additional 300 million people, will be absorbed by urban areas between 2011 and 2050. Urban communities will therefore accommodate 6.2 billion people, or 67% of the world population, in 2050. * The level and growth in private vehicle ownership – The developed world consists of a high level of vehicles per 1 000 residents (655 in 2010), but experienced a decline in growth of 0,8% between 2005 and 2010. Contrary to the developed world, the developing world had a low level of vehicle ownership per 1 000 residents (128 in 2010), but experienced an increase of 21.9% between 2005 and 2010. Apart from the above data, the literature review introduced planning theories and international as well as national policies. The three planning theories that were researched each revealed ten principles of sustainable alternative transportation measures for an unsustainable private vehicle orientated urban area. These sustainable measures were used to introduce the option of a sustainable non-motorised transportation system to the demarcated study area. The three planning theories researched were: * The Smart growth theory * New urbanism, and * Pedestrian mall developments. International and national policies were scrutinised to obtain a point-of-view on how different countries, cities, spheres of government and type of documentation addressed non-motorised transportation developments. The examination of the policies also provided insight on how South African spheres of government were addressing non-motorised transportation in South African urban communities, if at all. The international policies include the “Share the road” document compiled by the United Nations in 2010; Mount Rainier Town Centre Urban Renewal Plan (2005) (USA) and Ottawa’s Transport Master Plan (2008) (Canada). The South African policies included the National Non-motorised Transportation Policy (2008); National Transport Master Plan (2011); Northern Cape Provincial Spatial Development Framework (2012) and //Khara Hais Spatial Development Framework (2012) (local municipality). Following the literature review, is an empirical study consisting of 2 sections. Firstly, a pilot study, which consists of international and local examples, was researched. These examples were identified as they consist of vehicle-free areas within the central business district. The success of the vehicle-free developments was measured and the information utilised to guide recommendations for the demarcated study area within the town of Upington (case study). Pilot study examples include Copenhagen, Denmark; Ghent, Belgium; Santa Monica, USA and Cape Town, South Africa. Secondly, a case study was analysed. A study area within the South African town of Upington, Northern Cape Province was demarcated. The status quo of relevant aspects, including but not limited to; the climate, coverage, parking, road hierarchy and transport modes were obtained and analysed. This analysis was conducted in order to establish a) if the study area experienced urban transport related problems and b) if the implementation of a non-motorised transport system will be more sustainable for the general public of Upington, as opposed to the current private-vehicle dependable system. Inputs from Town Planners were also obtained in order to obtain a multi-dimensional point-of-view. In the conclusion of the researched study it was found that a) the planning theories have been successfully implemented in the examples of the pilot studies and therefore these principles could apply to the demarcated study area in Upington. b) International policies addressed non-motorisation developments more comprehensively than the South African policies. Shortages especially existed at the provincial and local spheres of government where implementation should take place. c) Through the analysis of the case study it become evident that the demarcated study area within Upington was burdened by private vehicle orientated transport problems. However, the analysis also indicated that the study area has the potential to make a successful transition from being dependable on unsustainable private vehicles to sustainable non-motorised transportation. Finally, tailor-made recommendations (based on information derived from planning theories, policies, pilot study and case study) were made for the study area situated within Upington. These recommendations include the phased development of a pedestrian-only area, the development of parking garages (outside the pedestrian area), which are linked to the pedestrian-only area and the development of a public transportation system by means of busses. / MArt et Scien (Urban and Regional Planning), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014