Trends and evolution of automobile ownership in the municipalities of Chile

Francisco Maturana,Víctor Cobs-Muñoz,Johana Maldonado,Mauricio Morales

doi:10.1590/2175-3369.013.e20210074

Abstract

Abstract The automobile has played a fundamental role in the development of cities in the daily movement of people. This paper analyzes the explosive increase in the number of motorized vehicles in the municipalities of Chile. Additionally, due to its national relevance, a disaggregated analysis of the Metropolitan Area of Santiago is presented. Through statistical data of the last 20 years, the analysis evidenced an explosive but differentiated increase of the automotive fleet. Results show the poorest municipalities with a lower dynamism, while those of the more affluent sectors experience exuberant increases. Particularly in the Metropolitan Area of Santiago, the results follow the same pattern, dynamics that jeopardize the planning and sustainability of national urban areas. A reflection is made focusing on the type of city that is being planned and built throughout the country and the urgency of a strategic public policy in urban public transport.

Highlights

The development of cities throughout history has been linked to different purposes and dimensions, such as economic, social, environmental, transportation, among others
From a perspective of sustainable cities, the development of the means of transportation finds its origin in the 80s decade, where the focus was to lowering the externalities produced by the use of automobiles
From the statistical point of view, the linear regression analyses reflect the generalized behavior of urban areas in Chile regarding the use of automobiles in relation to the number of inhabitants

Summary

Introduction

The development of cities throughout history has been linked to different purposes and dimensions, such as economic, social, environmental, transportation, among others The latter has played an important role in the growth of countries as an essential element for the lives of people living in urban areas. The increase of journeys would not have been possible without the evolution of physical support, in which a fundamental role has been played by land communication routes ( highways), which are transformed into true arteries that channel the relations between the nuclei and the economic activities they allow to be carried out (Coronado & Garmendia, 2008) These roads have made notable progress in their physical development, in terms of widening and paving the infrastructure (Echeñique, 1995)

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion