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Accessibility sufficiency thresholds as a tool to combat transport poverty?

Uffelen, Bregtje van (2023) Accessibility sufficiency thresholds as a tool to combat transport poverty? Master thesis.

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Master Thesis - Bregtje van Uffelen - Accessibility Sufficiency Thresholds as a Tool against transport poverty.pdf

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Abstract

In many cases in the Netherlands, the bike and public transport have longer travel times than the car in particular outside of urban centres. Considering the need to switch to sustainable modes of transport due to climate change and increasing costs of public transport, this could be a problem. Particularly when it leads to the inability of people to reach desired destinations and services, like education and employment. This phenomenon of an inability to reach desired destinations is commonly referred to as transport poverty. A report by the Planbureau voor de Leefomgeving from 2022 proposes to consider the possible contribution of norms for a minimum level of accessibility (or accessibility sufficiency thresholds) in combatting hinder to reach basic services. This research, of an explorative nature, has done so by developing an answer to the question; “What would be the advantages and disadvantages for transport poverty in Friesland of institutionalizing accessibility sufficiency thresholds for education and employment in Dutch planning policy?”. Answers have been developed based on a policy document analysis of Frisian land use and transport policies, interviews with researchers and a focus group discussion with Frisian land use and transport policymakers. The findings indicate that accessibility sufficiency thresholds alone will not solve transport poverty, as the inability to reach services is often an accumulation of problems. However, accessibility sufficiency thresholds might be beneficial for funding allocation towards places where inaccessibility to services is a problem and, depending on the design, has the potential to stop the trend where services are located at larger distances. A trend a certain group of people is suspected to have difficulty in following. Particularly, when a change in accessibility to services occurs and the current housing market prevents relocation. It is, however, important to first gain a better view on the situation of transport poverty within Friesland by talking with, rather than talking about, people which experience (extreme) hinder in reaching services. This is important to ensure alignment between the solution and the problem. Even then, it is important to increase understanding of the problem perspective; how much hinder in access to services and for how many people is considered too much?

Item Type: Thesis (Master)
Degree programme: Environmental & Infrastructure Planning
Supervisor: Lamker, C.W.
Date Deposited: 30 Aug 2023 07:41
Last Modified: 30 Aug 2023 07:41
URI: https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/4349

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