This chapter explains how the spatial organisation of our cities affects infrastructure
provision. Green space is certainly welcome, but is difficult to provide if construction of roads and buildings is allowed all over the place without any proper planning.
More roads produce fluid vehicular traffic, in turn attracting more cars, and thus
more reliance on fuel, producing more pollution, more noise, and so on – the very
opposite of sustainable development visions. A hundred years ago, there were
practically no cars and the size of towns was limited to pedestrian access, within a
reasonable time. Today, we keep on harping on the congestion and pollution caused
by vehicular transport. In view of problems regarding infrastructure requirements, it
is important for some strategic planning to be carried out right now for the next
50 years or more. The aim of this chapter is to propose a healthy town that would
provide a clean and quiet environment, free from pollution (air and noise), reduce
traffic problems and allow freedom of movement.
3.1 Cities Are for People
The city is for people. In that sense, the city should be used by people for their benefit
and enjoyment, rather than be congested with vehicular traffic.
The following pages show photographs, under different headings, which show
different facets of life in towns:
Parks
Public space
Roads
Roads are for people
Bicycles
62
3 Infrastructure and Spatial Organisation
provision. Green space is certainly welcome, but is difficult to provide if construction of roads and buildings is allowed all over the place without any proper planning.
More roads produce fluid vehicular traffic, in turn attracting more cars, and thus
more reliance on fuel, producing more pollution, more noise, and so on – the very
opposite of sustainable development visions. A hundred years ago, there were
practically no cars and the size of towns was limited to pedestrian access, within a
reasonable time. Today, we keep on harping on the congestion and pollution caused
by vehicular transport. In view of problems regarding infrastructure requirements, it
is important for some strategic planning to be carried out right now for the next
50 years or more. The aim of this chapter is to propose a healthy town that would
provide a clean and quiet environment, free from pollution (air and noise), reduce
traffic problems and allow freedom of movement.
3.1 Cities Are for People
The city is for people. In that sense, the city should be used by people for their benefit
and enjoyment, rather than be congested with vehicular traffic.
The following pages show photographs, under different headings, which show
different facets of life in towns:
Parks
Public space
Roads
Roads are for people
Bicycles
62
3 Infrastructure and Spatial Organisation