Quality of life in cities and towns is of increasing concern to the public, and to policymakers. One of the major threats to quality of life is the growing volume of motor vehicle traffic, which has increased more than fifteen-fold in the UK since 1950. This growing car dependence is creating an epidemic of deteriorated mental and physical health associated with air and noise pollution, inactivity, road deaths and injuries, and a growing destabilisation of the global climate. Problems related to car dependence have been particularly acute in greater Bristol, UK, where car ownership, vehicle use, and congestion are among the highest in Britain. The study investigated the specific impacts of traffic on quality of life within a residential area of Bristol through a replication of Donald Appleyard’s research into the effect of traffic on neighbourhood social interaction. (Appleyard, 1969) Primary data was collected through observations and a series of interviews with 60 households on three streets with varying levels of traffic in one neighbourhood in North Bristol. Results confirm that Appleyard’s findings are applicable within the United Kingdom, specifically that the number of friends and acquaintances on a residential street, as well as the extent of individuals’ ‘home territory’ tend to decrease as vehicle traffic increases. Other notable outcomes from the research include the finding that the frequency of stationary, street-based recreational activities is reduced as traffic flow increases, and that individuals’ perception of the safety of their neighbourhood may be disproportionately influenced by the amount of traffic on their street of residence, especially affecting the degree of independence granted to children. Finally, policy solutions to the issues raised are presented. (Author/publisher)
Abstract