Mobility as a crucial factor of spatial development in Function urban areas - Case study of Kosice region

Abstract

The majority of the population of Slovakia - 53.35% live in 141 cities, with a density of 398.27 inhabitants/km2 which, however, occupy an area of only 14.9% of the total territory of the republic. In 2749 villages occupying 85.1% of its territory, 46.65% of the population lives at a density of 60.98 inhabitants/km2. In the last century, there was a significant migration of the village population in Slovakia to work in the cities. In the Slovak Republic, there are 325.8 dwellings per 1000 inhabitants, this indicator in the original states of the European Union ranges from 390 to 500 dwellings per 1000 inhabitants. The current shortage of flats in Slovakia has also become a political agenda; the current government has to build 25,000 flats a year in the program. The biggest obstacle to the housing construction program is the lack of suitable building plots. It is not possible to find enough plots only in the territory of cities, it will be necessary to organically involve municipalities in the vicinity – I functional urban areas of economically prosperous cities/regional centres in the preparation of suitable building plots and related infrastructure. The development of municipalities so far, as well as the preparation of building plots for housing construction, which relies on the "market will solve it" model, has not proved successful. Developers in the pursuit of financial profit have focused on the production of as many apartments as possible in the vicinity of economically prosperous cities without building the necessary infrastructure. Thus, new "Satellite Cities" were created, with a deficient transport connection to the dominant city. Based on the research made, we concluded that living in a village for workers working in the city requires quick transport between home and work. So effective mobility is a priority but also a necessary condition for young families to decide where to live. Article summarizing research dealing with the challenge mentioned above and offers a case study from Slovakia especially from FUA of regional centre Košice. Case study including the proposal for the mobility model for specific villages in FUA of Košice.