eprintid: 3521
rev_number: 5
eprint_status: archive
userid: 1
dir: disk0/00/00/35/21
datestamp: 2021-07-06 16:17:50
lastmod: 2021-07-06 16:17:50
status_changed: 2021-07-06 16:17:50
type: thesis
metadata_visibility: show
sword_depositor: 1
creators_name: Kremers, Jorn
creators_id: S3762602
creators_email: j.kremers@student.rug.nl
title: Child-friendly neighbourhoods. The influence of car-free neighbourhoods on child-friendliness and the potential benefits of the reclaimed space
ispublished: unpub
full_text_status: public
abstract: Due to the enormous growth of car-use in the last decades, many urban areas in the world are burdened with congestion, traffic, noise, pollution and safety issues. To decrease car-use, the concept of car-free zones and traffic calming measures is getting more and more the attention. However, it is still not really known what the influences of car-free neighbourhoods are on children and on child-friendly planning. Therefore, the central question of this research which will be answered is: “To what extent could a car-free neighbourhood contribute to child-friendliness?”
This explorative research is based on the two-step approach, in which the first step is an in-depth literature review about car-free neighbourhoods and child-friendliness, and the second step is the analyzation of survey results conducted in two car-free neighbourhoods and two car-present neighbourhoods in the Netherlands. 
Based on the literature review, there are various advantages of car-free neighbourhoods regarding safety, health, social cohesion, and environment. Furthermore, the literature  shows that children living in car-present neighbourhoods cannot play outside independently anymore compared to children from the 1970s. The result is that children stay indoors more often because of the growth in car-use. 
The results of the survey show that the car-free neighbourhoods contribute to child-friendliness because of more street safety, health advantages and the opportunities for children to play outside. However, this research also shows that the child-friendliness of a neighbourhood not only depends on whether a neighbourhood is car-free or not. This is because the presence of greenery, playgrounds, and play equipment might even be more important than the implementation of a car-free neighbourhood to create a child-friendly environment. Residents from car-free neighbourhoods as well as residents from car-present neighbourhoods think that there is still room for improvement within the neighbourhood regarding child-friendliness. This means that a car-free neighbourhood is not by definition more child-friendly compared to a car-present neighbourhood, it also depends on the development opportunities in neighbourhoods for children regarding physical activity, active mobility, and social cohesion.
date: 2021
pages: 59
thesis_type: bachelor
degree_programme: TP
tutors_name: Niekerk, F.
tutors_organization: Fac. Ruimtelijke wetenschappen, Basiseenheid Planologie
tutors_email: F.Niekerk@rug.nl
security: validuser
keywords_local: Car-free neighbourhood
keywords_local: Neighbourhood planning
keywords_local: Child-friendliness
keywords_local: Child-inclusiveness
keywords_local: Reclaiming space
keywords_local: Neighbourhood recreational space
language_iso: en
agreed_repository: yes
date_issued: 2021-07-04
citation:   Kremers, Jorn  (2021) Child-friendly neighbourhoods. The influence of car-free neighbourhoods on child-friendliness and the potential benefits of the reclaimed space.  Bachelor thesis.   
document_url: https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/3521/1/Final%20version%20Thesis%20Bsc%20Spatial%20Planning%20%26%20Design%20Jorn%20Kremers.pdf