Source: Adapted from R. Cervero (1998) The Transit Metropolis, Washington, D.C.: Island Press. Urban transit systems played an important role in shaping urban form in the late 19th up to the mid-20th century. Then, the massive diffusion of the automobile and highway systems broke this relationship, which resulted in a
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Light Rail Transit, Lyon, France
Photo: Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue, 2011. Light rail transit systems emerged in the 1970s as a replacement and overhaul of streetcar systems that were becoming obsolete. While servicing similar high-density urban areas than their streetcar predecessors, they have the advantage of being longer, faster, and able to carry more passengers, with
Components of an Urban Transit System
The above figure represents a hypothetical urban transit system where each component is designed to provide a specific array of services conferring mobility. Among the defining factors of urban transit services are capacity, frequency, flexibility, costs, and distance between stops: Metro (subway) system. A heavy rail system, often underground in
World’s Main Subway Systems, c2020
Source: adapted from Metrobits.org, World Metro Database. Approximately 194 subway (metro) systems are in operation worldwide, with several carrying more than 1 billion passengers per year. The construction and setting of subway systems have accelerated in recent years, particularly in cities in developing economies where mass transit has become a
Mobility Gaps in Urban Areas
Many cities have two mobility spaces, one which is transit-oriented and usually in central areas with extensions along transit corridors, and the other which is car-oriented and peripheral areas. This duality in mobility can be seen as a mobility gap and can have important impacts on employment opportunities. A mobility-constrained
Daily Person Miles of Travel per Person by Age and Gender, 2017
Source: US DOT, FHWA (2017) National Household Travel Survey. There are mobility gaps according to age and gender. The peak mobility age is around 40 years when individuals tend to be in their most productive years and fully employed. Males tend to travel further than females, a gap that can
Work-Related Mobility in a Motorized City
Source: adapted from S. Hanson (1995), The Geography of Urban Transportation. In motorized urban areas, mobility can be divided into five major spatial categories: The above figure is illustrative of the United States, and the proportions are generic and will vary by metropolitan area.
Modal Split, Journey to Work Trips, Selected Cities
Source: Adapted from Passenger Transport Mode Shares in World Cities, Journeys, December 2014. Modal split across cities can vary substantially according to the level of development, urban density, and land use patterns. Dense cities (such as Asian and European cities) are generally more transit-oriented. In contrast, less dense cities (namely
Typical Car and Truck Trips Distribution by Time of the Day
In urban areas, trucks and cars share the roads, implying that when there is congestion road capacity used by one mode is at the expense of the other. Although cars and trucks have different trip distribution patterns and are related to different economic and social activities, they both have peak
Urban Travel by Purpose and by Time of the Day in a Typical City
Source: adapted from Barber, G. (1995) “Aggregate Characteristics of Urban Travel”, in S. Hanson (ed) The Geography of Urban Transportation, 2nd Edition, New York: The Guilford Press, p. 92. The above figure is a typical representation of urban travel by purpose and by the time of the day typical city