TITLE:
Sustainable Urban Mobility: Challenges, Initiatives and Planning
AUTHORS:
Viswanadha Kumar Giduthuri
KEYWORDS:
Urban Mobility, Urbanization, Non-Motorization, Health and Environment
JOURNAL NAME:
Current Urban Studies,
Vol.3 No.3,
September
15,
2015
ABSTRACT: The growth of cities is not spontaneous and uncontrollable but guided and shaped by human interaction
and by physical infrastructure. However, urban expansion around the world is characterised
by uncontrolled urban sprawl leading to inefficient use of space and natural resources. Interactions
between humans and opportunities for innovations are constrained by low density and
social segregation. For the cities and towns to function efficiently, accessibility is essential to carry
the goods and for services. But accessible cities are being encouraged to shift towards more sustainable
modes of transportation and draw more travelers in different modes of transport including
sidewalks. Mobility is about more than just the mode of transport available. Urban planning
and design should focus on how to bring people and places together, by creating cities that focus
on accessibility and optimal urban densities, rather than simply increasing the length of urban
transport infrastructure. This paper gives a brief review of urban planning initiatives taken by government
of Indian towards a sustainable urban mobility plans and outlines urban planning challenges
for the local urban bodies, urban designers and policy makers.