Mobility objectives play an important role in the spatial planning policy in the Netherlands. Over the past decade, new housing locations were chosen based on their proximity to existing cities and their accessibility by public transport ('Vinex-policy'). Following an earlier study of TNO Inro into the travel behaviour of the inhabitants of these new housing estates, this study has used the same data set to analyse the choices of the inhabitants of new housing estates with respect to the destinations they travel to. The following research questions were formulated: what are the differences in orientation of the inhabitants of different types of location (location types based on Vinex policy, compared to inhabitants of existing towns)? ; in what way do spatial characteristics influence the orientation and what policy conclusions with respect to future spatial planning can be derived from this ? From the analysis it appears that the differences in orientation between the average Dutch person and the inhabitants of new housing estates are small. The majority of all trips are made to destinations within the inhabitants' own urban area, the largest part even within the inhabitants' own neighbourhood or municipality. Relatively few trips are made to other urban areas. There were, however, some differences between the different types of new housing estates (inner-city, suburban, other and non-Vinex), which can be attributed to differences in the situation (proximity to the centre of an urban area, quality of public transport), the provision of services (especially notable for shopping trips) and employment (especially notable for work trips). These variables turn out to be the most influential on the orientation. For future urbanisation strategies, it is therefore important to look for locations that are not too far removed from the centre or a sub-centre of an urban area and have access to good public transport (preferably multilateral). Within urban areas or urban networks, the (spatial) distribution of houses, services and employment should be such that most inhabitants have access to employment and services at a reasonable distance. (A)
Abstract