The Nature of Urban Growth and the Commuting Transition: Endless Sprawl or a Growth Wave?

Abstract

Abstract:The concept of an urban growth wave expanding outwards is used to examine the commuting characteristics of residents of recently developed housing areas within the 50 largest US metropolitan areas at multiple points of time between 1980 and 2000. The results show that not only do areas of recent housing booms have longer commuting times and differing socioeconomic characteristics than older parts of the cities, but this commuting time will subside as these areas age (although average commuting times may rise for the entire metropolitan area). Like a growth wave, a commuting transition move outwards and therefore newer growth areas (or sprawl) should be considered as a temporary stage in the ongoing process of urban growth. Focusing on building cycles avoids the pejorative sprawl label and reconceptualises this sort of low density, auto-dependent urban form as a normal part of the urban growth process.

Evaluating the dynamic impacts of urban form on transportation and environmental outcomes in US cities

“…Sarzynski et al (2006) also found that faster-growing cities have longer commute times. Sultana and Weber (2013) studied the concept of growth wave and found that recent housing developments have longer commuting time than older part of the cities, but this commuting time will subside as these areas age. Studies have also examined the relations between population density and transit ridership; most of them confirm that areas with lower population densities have fewer journeys by public transport.…”

Analysis of travel time and mode choice shift for non-work stops in commuting: case study of Beijing, China

“…Commuting behavior has been an important topic in transportation research for decades (Cervero and Wu 1998;Horner 2004;McGuckin and Murakami 1999;Sultana and Weber 2014). In addition to direct commute trips, extra stops added to the commute journey have recently received increased attention (Bhat 1999;Bhat and Sardesai 2006;Cao et al 2008;Currie and Delbosc 2011;Ma et al 2014;McGuckin et al 2005;Portoghese et al 2011;Susilo and Kitamura 2008;Van Acker and Witlox 2011).…”

Understanding Mobilities for Designing Contemporary Cities

“…On the contrary, the oldest urban settlement (Cerro) has the lowest value of outflows, confirming the "commuting transition paradigm" (Sultana and Weber 2014) due to the age of these areas (Fig. 9).…”

“…Mostly due to recent widespread decentralization processes, peri-urban areas are places where a considerable quantum of growth tends to occur, 1 accompanied by socio-economic changes modifying their characteristics and transforming their relations with the central urban areas, with clear effects also on mobility practices in terms of "commuting transition" (Sultana and Weber 2014), with rapid increases in commuting time followed by gradual decreases, 2 accompanied by a multi-skilled and hyper mobility, related to leisure and personal travels.…”

“…According to Sultana and Weber (2014) study on commuting patterns, peri-urban areas of recent residential growth in American cities have longer commuting times than other parts of the city; furthermore, and parallel with the ageing of this areas, commuting time will go through a predictable commuting transition.…”