Is your city a 15-minute city? Introduction to accessibility analysis

Timetable

The course consists of a lecture part (10 hours) and a practical part (20 hours). The practical part will take place in a computer lab.

Detailed timetable will be provided before the start of the semester.

Module aim (aims)

After decades of car-centric development, many urban residents find it difficult to imagine their everyday lives without using a car. Yet, negative consequnces of mass motorization such as traffic jams, accidents, noise, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions become increasingly evident. Accessibility-oriented urban planning offers an alternative by promoting the use of walking, cycling and public transport as a way of improving the overall liveability of urban neighbourhoods.

The aim of this course is to present the 15-minute city concept as an example of an accessibility-oriented  planning approach, and to introduce students to the basics of accessibility analysis. Working with real world data, the participants will learn how geographic information systems (GIS) can be used to process relevant data. Using practical case studies, they will identify areas where the quality of walking, cycling or public transport infrastructure needs to be improved so that the transport systems may better serve the needs of urban residents.

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

A communicative knowledge of English is required. Basic knowledge of GIS may be helpful, but is not strictly necessary. An introduction will be provided for students with no prior GIS experience.

Syllabus

Lecture (2 hours per week)
Week 1: From car-centric to accessibility-oriented urban planning
Week 2: The 15-minute city concept
Week 3: How to measure accessibility?
Week 4: Walking and cycling accessibility
Week 5: Public transport accessibility

Practical part (4 hours per week)
Week 1: Preparation of data sources
Week 2: Practicing with isochrones
Week 3: Accessibility for whom? Adding census data
Week 4: Further steps: combining data sources, comparing scenarios
Week 5: Summing up: what can we learn from accessibility analysis?

Reading list

Geurs K, van Wee B (2004). Accessibility evaluation of land-use and transport strategies: review and research directions, Journal of Transport Geography, 12(2): 127-140, DOI: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2003.10.005

El-Geneidy A, & Levinson D (2022) Making accessibility work in practice, Transport Reviews, 42(2): 129-133, DOI: 10.1080/01441647.2021.1975954

Moreno C, Allam Z, Chabaud D, Gall C, Pratlong F. (2021) Introducing the “15-Minute City”: Sustainability, Resilience and Place Identity in Future Post-Pandemic Cities,  Smart Cities, 4(1): 93-111, DOI: 10.3390/smartcities4010006