Hybrid Oriented Sustainable Urban Development: A Pattern of Low-Carbon Access to Schools in the City of Potenza

Abstract

This study analyzes urban street network of the city of Potenza in Basilicata region to provide input for a sustainable urban mobility-based strategy enabling students to reach schools through the use of low-carbon transport modes’ share. The analyses have been carried out by using Place Syntax Analysis in order to identify a network of paths which guarantees pedestrian and bicycle access to schools located in the urban area of Potenza. Within urban space morphology research, combining Space Syntax and GIS-methods, Place Syntax allows to perform analyses of the spatial configuration of streets taking into account both street network layout and the location of spatial opportunities. Urban form (in our analysis, in terms of configurational characteristics) and accessibility to destinations (schools in this study) are essential to increase the share of walking and bicycling as the preferred modes of people’s daily travel. The paper shows the potential integration between active transport modes and public transport in the city of Potenza. Ensuring an easy transition between walking, cycling and public transport (e.g. by designing a widespread and direct network of cycle-pedestrian paths to and from the stations) contributes to create a “Hybrid Oriented Sustainable Urban Development” towards low-carbon settlements characterized by a significant reduction in congestion, air pollution and carbon emissions.