The Relations between Street Network Configuration and Travel Behavior in Pakistan; the Optimal Level of Street Connectivity for a More Active Mobility

Melika Mehriar,Atif Bilal Aslam,Houshmand Masoumi,Ayesha Zulfiqar,Tuba Suhail,Syed Mubasher Gillani

doi:10.3390/app112211015

Abstract

Urban sprawl is a particular pattern of the street network and land use. The relationship between street networks and sprawl has been discussed by urban scholars in developed and high-income countries. Nevertheless, there is a lack of research on the relationships between street connectivity and urban travel behavior, particularly among emerging markets. This paper aims to study correlations between urban mobility and street-length density as an indicator for assessing the compactness of an area by developing two hierarchical regression models and controlling for socioeconomic variables in two large Pakistani cities: Lahore and Rawalpindi. Moreover, this paper defines optimal cutoff values for street-length density and active transport. Finally, three chi-square tests were conducted to assess the differences between using different mode choices by people living in sprawled neighborhoods versus compact neighborhoods. Our findings confirm the use of different transport modes depending on the purpose of the trip (commuting or non-commuting), length of trip (within or outside the neighborhood), and starting point (sprawled neighborhood or compact area). We also find a positive correlation between street-length density around homes and commuting distance, the frequency of public transport use, and the use of private motor vehicles in commuting trips in the two cities. Street-length density around workplaces is correlated with commuting distance, the frequency of public transport use, and the use of private motor vehicles when socioeconomic variables (including age, daily activity, and monthly income) are controlled for in the two models. The behavior of Pakistani residents changes with a street-length density of 137 and 144.7 m/m2 for homes and workplaces, respectively, in terms of using active mobility.

Highlights

Street-length density around homes correlated with the number of commuting trips, the use of private motor vehicles for commuting trips, and the frequency of public transport use after socioeconomic variables were controlled for in the model
The number of non-commuting trips was removed from the model according to the highest p-values, but other non-significant variables, including commuting distance and the use of private motor vehicles in noncommuting trips remained in the model
The number of commuting trips, the frequency of public transport use, and the use of private motor vehicles are highly correlated with streetlength density; there were no variables in the model that demonstrated only a marginally significant correlation

Summary

Introduction

Scholars have identified a range of characteristics defining urban sprawl, such as low-density, cardependent areas; single land uses; street networks with low connectivity; and leapfrogging and discrete new development areas in the periphery of cities [2,3,4,5]. A large number of studies have related sprawl with the use of motor vehicles, long-distance commuting trips, high-energy consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions. This literature has discussed street structure as one of the most important determining features of urban sprawl. More studying different patterns of street networks in sprawled urban areas and their association with travel behavior in the context of developing countries can help planners avoid the generalization of strategies in developing countries. Growing urban populations has led to the mass proliferation of discrete settlements with lower street connectivity in emerging economies

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