People centered transport planning

207600 - People-Centered Transport Planning

Prof. Karel Martens

People-Centered Transport Planning

Prof. Karel Martens

For decades, transport planning has been dominated by an engineering perspective, with its (elusive) goal to deliver a smooth-working, congestion-free, functioning of the transport system. This traditional approach has been challenged over the past three decades by a sustainable approach, which paradoxically also focuses on cars and car users, precisely because it seeks to reduce the reliance on cars. This course introduces students to two these dominant perspectives on transport planning and – more importantly – their fundamental flaws. It then presents a novel alternative: people-centered transport planning. In contrast to the other approaches, people-centered transport planning seeks to deliver a transport system that serves all people – young or old, rich or poor, fit or frail –, while remaining within environmental boundaries. In the course, students learn about the philosophical roots of this approach and become acquainted with the novel methods to analyze transport problems and propose solutions.

Grade determination: Active participation in lectures, Reading assignments, and final paper.

Scope of Study: 3 hours of lecture per week.

 

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Location: Segoe Building 516