Urban Spatial Structure and Travel in China

Abstract

This article first provides a critical scoping review of empirical literature on the relationship between urban structure and travel in China. The review finds that residential suburbanization alone increases travel, polycentric development has mixed effects, and jobs–housing balance reduces travel. Second, this article compares the empirical findings of the urban structure–travel relationships in China with those observed in other countries, and it identifies contextual factors that can explain the differing relationships in China. We suggest that future research improve data and methodology and broaden the research scope to investigate the complex mechanisms that affect the urban structure–travel relationship in China.

Understanding commuting patterns and changes: Counterfactual analysis in a planning support framework

“…The overcrowded centre can be relieved through the relocation of jobs and resulting residential relocations, whereas the suburban areas lacking employment opportunities can benefit from the employment inflows. These findings provide quantifiable insights based on the existing qualitative studies regarding the travel impacts of jobs and housing provisions (see, for example Hu et al, 2020).…”

“…Changes in urban form result in shifts in spatial interactions. For instance, urban policies oriented towards employment suburbanisation tend to reduce excess commuting (Hu et al, 2020), whereas residential suburbanisation lengthens commute travel time and distance (Burapatana and Ross, 2007). However, urban economic models are seldom applied to detailed geographic scales due to their hungriness for data in various urban sectors (e.g.…”

City Branding Evaluation as a Tool for Sustainable Urban Growth: A Framework and Lessons from the Yangtze River Delta Region

“…It is noteworthy that a shift to the network paradigm emphasizing the interactions between local development, regional coalition, and globalization processes has become increasingly important in understanding city branding and sustainable growth. A complementary or synergic relationship through multipolar territorial organization gives rise to strategic, integrated, and sustainable development via a trans-territorial network of relationships [33][34][35]. Despite the significance of the adopted branding tool of a particular city, the effective functioning of the network and joint implementation of cooperation activities among cities can further reinforce the cities' image [36], promote social inclusion [37], and sustain regional growth [38,39].…”

Urban Planning Research and Practice in China

“…The article on urban spatial structure and travel by Hu et al (2020, pp. 3–21) scrutinizes the actual travel outcomes of major planning strategies that affect urban spatial structures, that is, incentivizing/curbing suburbanization, encouraging polycentric development, and developing job–housing balanced cities.…”

“…51–67) use one section to criticize the lack of attention to the social and community impacts of CCI developments in China. Both Hu et al (2020, pp. 3–21) and Yang et al (2020, pp.…”