Oost, Thijs (2022) How to make car-free neighbourhoods work: the factors that contribute to the success of a car-free neighbourhood. Master thesis.
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Abstract
Cars and their associated infrastructure, like roads and parking, have far-reaching consequences on urban life. They take up much of the space in cities, but we could put this space to better use. By reducing the number of cars in neighbourhoods, we could add more green to stimulate active forms of mobility, like walking, cycling and public transport. This change is not only good for climate adaptation, reducing the urban heat island effect and increasing drainage, but also beneficial for the health of residents. There is already a great deal of literature on car-free cities but little existing literature on car-free residential areas. As a result, car-free neighbourhoods receive little attention from policymakers and are little applied in practice. It is therefore not very clear what makes a car-free neighbourhood successful. Therefore, this research aimed to identify the factors contributing to a car-free neighbourhood's success. The main research question was: What factors contribute to the success of a car-free neighbourhood? This research combined the top-down perspective of local governments with the bottom-up perspective of residents. This research approach has not yet been applied frequently to car-free neighbourhoods but could provide valuable information. This research used a qualitative research method, a comparative case study, to answer the research questions. Interviews were conducted with residents of three car-free neighbourhoods in the Netherlands, combined with interviews with local governments. The findings show that most residents are positive about the concept of car-free neighbourhoods. However, local authorities argue that the location of a neighbourhood determines whether the concept of a car-free neighbourhood is a good idea to apply. The identified factors contributing to a car-free neighbourhood's success are greenery, a reduced number of parking spaces, enough alternatives to the car, involvement of residents from the start, clear agreements between residents and local governments, and a location close to a city’s centre. Recommended subjects for future research are (1) the intended target groups of car-free neighbourhoods by local governments, (2) different car-free neighbourhoods in the Netherlands or car-free neighbourhoods outside of the Netherlands, and (3) the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people's decision to live in a car-free neighbourhood.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
|---|---|
| Degree programme: | Environmental & Infrastructure Planning |
| Supervisor: | Rijnks, R.H. |
| Date Deposited: | 02 Sep 2022 14:29 |
| Last Modified: | 02 Sep 2022 14:29 |
| URI: | https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/4022 |
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