Access to green and gray urban nature amenities: exploring equity in Montreal's built environment

Abstract

ABSTRACT Contemporary ideologies have identified two main paradigms contributing to sustainable cities: green urban and gray urban nature. The first refers to features that make cities greener, such as parks or tree coverage. The second refers to gray but sustainable areas, such as dense areas or the proximity to key amenities that can foster active travel. Accessibility to green and gray urban nature amenities by active transport is essential for evaluating if cities are sustainable. We analyzed the accessibility to green (green spaces) and gray (food stores and pharmacies) urban nature in Montreal. The findings show that most people have sufficient access to green and gray urban nature, and low-income groups have better access than high-income groups. Areas with access to both tend to be highly dense, suggesting that dense areas have sustainable attributes. Transport planning interventions in areas lacking access are necessary to achieve sustainable goals in Montreal.