Determining Sustainable Land Use by Modal Split Shift Strategy for Low Emissions: Evidence from Medium-Sized Cities of China

Wenzhu Zhou,Zhibin Li

doi:10.1155/2016/2745092

Abstract

The rapid urbanization in medium-sized cities in China has led to revolution of transportation systems resulting in negative impacts on the environment. Evaluating the relationship among land use, modal split, and traffic emission can help propose regional optimal land use pattern by modal shift strategy to reduce carbon emissions. Data were collected from seven medium-sized cities in China. The study first evaluated the land use that influences mode split and the relationship between modal split and traffic emission. Then a sustainable mode shift strategy was provided to reduce emissions. Lastly, we provided constructive suggestions for sustainable land use pattern by mode shift strategy. To reduce emission per trip, nonmotorized trip modes and public transit should be increased, and, accordingly, the residence-industry and residence-retain mix entropy should be increased. The study found that the regions with job-housing balance or retail-housing mix could increase the mode share of nonmotorized vehicle traffic and reduce car use. The modal shift can in the future benefit emission reductions.

Highlights

In the past, a traditional perspective is that increasing the road supply can fit the increasing need of traffic demand
Considering the fact that there is a close relationship between land use and traffic demand, the study that evaluates the impacts of land use changes on travel behaviours has drawn great interests by researchers around the world
As the road space per person increases by 10 m2/person, the percentage of NMVS will rapidly decrease by 29% while the car and motorcycle will increase by 9% and 23%

Summary

Introduction

A traditional perspective is that increasing the road supply can fit the increasing need of traffic demand. Considering the fact that there is a close relationship between land use and traffic demand, the study that evaluates the impacts of land use changes on travel behaviours has drawn great interests by researchers around the world. Over the past decade several papers have presented overviews of studies in the area of the impacts of land use on travel behaviour. Urban form is characterized using the parameters such as the population or employment density, land use mix, distance to facilities for shopping, accessibility, street connectivity, transit accessibility, and roadway design. They are unable to account for the reliably of the relationship between urban form and travel behaviour [16]

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