Cycling Infrastructure and Urban Development

This assignment analyzes the impact of cycling infrastructure on urban development, using Sydney's Harrington Grove as a case study. It compares strategies from Houten, Netherlands, explores the influence of new transport infrastructure on property values, and considers the role of urban design in promoting safe and sustainable cycling. The analysis draws upon research findings, case studies, and policy documents to assess the effectiveness of various approaches to encourage cycling in urban environments.

Running head: TRANSPORTATION
Urban Design Protocol for Australian Cities
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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Description of Houten Transport System........................................................................................2
Description of Harrington Transport System in Sydney.................................................................3
Unique designs of Houten Transport...............................................................................................4
Comparison between these two transport systems..........................................................................4
Recommendation.............................................................................................................................6
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................7
References........................................................................................................................................9
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Introduction
The efficient transportation system has been influencing the modern civilization in a
significant way. According to Vergnes, Kerbiriou and Clergeau (2013), the economic
development of the country is exclusively depending on the adequate and efficient transportation
system. It is notable that the countries are unable to build the prosperity if the there is the lack of
well-developed transport or communication system. Hence, it can be inferred that the developed
and improved transport system of a country contributes to the economic development parameter.
It is noticed that the transport system helps in increasing land values, making more labor mobile,
focusing on equalizing prices, and determining the geographic industry distribution (Crane et al.
2016). The study would develop the considerable description of Houten Transport and the
Harrington Grove transport of Sydney. The comparison between these transport systems would
initiate ideas about the significant use of the effective transport system. Furthermore, the study
would provide the set of recommendation preferable for ensuring the sustainable transport
development process.
Description of Houten Transport System
Houten, a city of Netherlands, has built the entire transportation system by prioritizing
the pedestrian and cyclist. It is indeed considered as the Greenfield development with high
quality bicycle infrastructure, proper transit access, and application of the effective educational
programs for promoting cycling. In the year of 1968, the city council approved such unique ideas
for developing the environmental welfare (Eltis.org 2017). This transport system is focusing on
developing the green environment by reducing the risks of accidental hazards and minimizing
the amount of pollutant materials. The core design feature of this city transport involves the
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application of the measuring techniques of the traffic calms, narrow roads and separating the
bicycle paths from the traffic of the car. The city layout includes two train stations and a ring
road surrounds each of the station. The simple design and planning process is environmental
friendly. The two town centers are connected with the other destinations via a 135 km of red
asphalt bicycle facilities (Krizek 2017). Any intersection between the auto-through traffic ad
cycling facilities is modified with proper concentration and grade-separated treatments. It is to be
noted that the traffic light concept is not present in this system. The unique process of
maintaining the green development and developing the city transport system are much
appreciable.
Description of Harrington Transport System in Sydney
Harrington Grove is another most significant urbanized transport system in Sydney. The
report reflects that the Government of NSW has undertaken the decision of constructing the New
South West Rail Link to connect the underground south of the Oran Park. The NSW Minister of
Transportation undertook such decisions to improve the urbanized transportation system
(Camden.nsw.gov.au 2017). The ministry confirmed that the major aim of making such proposal
is to save the Harrington Forest. It is also confirmed that the application of such initiation would
not require resumption of the houses. This underground option is quite feasible for the citizens
since it would not create any environmental hazards. Harrington Estates, the developer of the
Harrington Grove supported such objectives ensured by the state government. The Harrington
Transport System has paid attention towards the requirements of improving the urban residents.
However, the major concern of the residents that their property or lands would be affected due to
the connected roadways (Harringtongrove.com.au 2017). It is assumed that this transportation
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service would create the significant impact on the residents at Harrington Grove. It is generally
focusing on the improvement of the public transport in Sydney.
Unique designs of Houten Transport
The bike centric culture and design is extensively embraced and admirable. The Houten
City consists of over 129 kilometers of cycle paths colored in red and black (Hatfield and
Boufous 2016). The path is completely separated from the car traffics. This unique design is
contributing to the environment welfare purposes. In fact, the infrastructure costs are not too
much high in compare to other transport ways in Netherlands. The focus of such unique design is
to promote the safer and convenient cycling transport in Houten. However, there is one challenge
can be foreseen due to the lack of sufficient places of parking the bicycles.
Houten Transport system is mainly focusing on the development of the urban designs. It
is notable that the focus on the urban design is the key to achieve the transport sustainability.
However, it is even argued that the location of the housing and road layouts have the high
chances of affecting the travel behaviour of the local residents. They would be prioritizing the
cyclist priority instead of paying attention to their private cars. Another unique feature is added
to the street layout and design (Kenna, Goodman and Stevenson 2017). The network of the
streets in Houten connects the north and south ring roads. Each of these layouts is of about one
kilometer. In general perspective, it has been noticed that there is the lack of direct connection
between the neighborhoods by car. People need to use the ring road in order to get the access to
the other neighborhoods. The cyclists receive the major priorities among the residential lives as
well.
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Comparison between these two transport systems
The unique ideas and urbanized transport planning applied to the Houten Transport
System is much effective for the environment. The cycling ride throughout the cities is reducing
the environmental pollution. In fact, these cycling areas are not connected to the car traffic areas.
Hence, the risks of the accidental hazards are quite less. In compare to the Houten Transport
System, it has been observed that the transport system in Harrington Grove has been creating
much impact on the resident house (Howden-Chapman et al. 2015). Even though the initiative
was undertaken for developing the residential housing and the lives of the people. However,
multiple representations of the concerned issues are presented to the council on behalf of the
property owners and developers. The lesser involvement of the target stakeholders is one of the
major reasons behind such disagreements (Abc.net.au 2017). The core design feature of this city
transport involves the application of the measuring techniques of the traffic calms, narrow roads
and separating the bicycle paths from the traffic of the car. The affected property owners have
their concerns regarding the proposal of the underground rail corridor (Harringtongrove.com.au
2017). The challenges in these two transport systems are quite recognizable. It was implied that
prioritizing the cycling rides throughout Houten is creating the impact on the use of cars.
Moreover, the lack of sufficient space for cycle parking is also one of the most significant issues
faced by the residents of Houten. However, this transport system is focusing on developing the
green environment by reducing the risks of accidental hazards and minimizing the amount of
pollutant materials. On the other side, the Harrington Transport System has paid attention
towards the requirements of improving the urban residents (Mulley and Tsai 2016). However,
the major concern of the residents that their property or lands would be affected due to the
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connected roadways. Hence, the issues with the resident perspectives are different in these
different transport based initiatives.
Recommendation
The ideas obtained from the above study highlights the appreciable transport planning
undertaken by Houten Transport systems. Considering such unique approaches and designs, it is
essential to provide the suitable recommendation for the Australian transport systems as well.
The Australian transport systems require concentrating on the following factors while designing
and developing the urban areas.
 The NSW Transport can align with the NSW Department of Planning and
Environment. It would be helpful idea in gathering the adequate knowledge about the
South West Growth Centre Structure Plan. The Transport Ministry would derive
knowledge about the potential opportunities for transport planning and sustainability if
the plan focuses on the environmental and residential welfare.
 It is important to structure the proper strategy for addressing the potential issues. For
example, before the rail line is constructed, there is the significant issue with the higher
level of development density. The strategy would determine the orderly rate of the
development for mitigating the adverse outcomes of the urban planning.
 It is necessary to gather the fruitful ideas about the cost benefit process. The development
of the structured cost benefit process is necessary prior to develop the transport system.
The information is made to available publicly for maintaining the transparency in a
significant way.
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 The ideas gathered from the planning and design process of Houten, the Sydney transport
Ministry also requires concentrating on the structured planning process. Hence, it is
necessary to keep the focus on the environmental welfare process to ensure the
sustainable future and efficient urban development.
 One of the major focuses of this transport planning system is the preservation of the
corridor alignment. The council of transport administration in Sydney requires
concentrating on the ‘Review of Environmental Factors’ for gathering the adequate
information about the heritage-related matters.
 Following the sequential steps for structuring the master plan for the stations would be
helpful for the council to propose the better transport systems. The urban life would be
developed accordingly.
Conclusion
The study provides the idea about the innovative and unique transportation planning
initiated by Houden Transport Systems in Netherland. The unique ideas of developing the
cycling rides throughout the city are creating the effective impact on the environment. The focus
of such unique design is to promote the safer and convenient cycling transport in Houten. It
ensures the less pollution and decreasing the number of the accidental hazards. The core design
feature of this city transport involves the application of the measuring techniques of the traffic
calms, narrow roads and separating the bicycle paths from the traffic of the car. The lack of
sufficient space for cycle parking is also one of the most significant issues faced by the residents
of Houten. However, this transport system is focusing on developing the green environment by
reducing the risks of accidental hazards and minimizing the amount of pollutant materials. On
the other hand, the underground transportation system initiative proposed by the Harrington
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Grove council is much criticized by the land or property owners. In spite of the positive outcome
to be assumed, the landowners are afraid of losing their properties. The study develops the
comparison between the Sydney Transport System and the Houden Transport System. In
compare to the Houten Transport System, it has been observed that the transport system in
Harrington Grove has been creating much impact on the resident house. The Sydney Transport
Council requires providing more focus on the urban and environmental development.
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References
Abc.net.au, 2017. South-west Sydney residents and developers shocked by rail plan. [online]
ABC News. Available at: <http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-16/south-west-sydney-
residents-shocked-by-rail-plan/6549026> [Accessed 26 Aug. 2017].
Camden.nsw.gov.au, 2017. [online] Available at:
<http://www.camden.nsw.gov.au/assets/pdf/Council/PublicationsPlansAndPolicies/2016/15-
221510-Letter-to-Camden-Council-Submission-to-South-West-Rail-Link-Extension-Public-
Transport-Corridor-Preservation-2015.pdf> [Accessed 26 Aug. 2017].
Crane, M., Rissel, C., Greaves, S., Standen, C. and Wen, L.M., 2016. Neighbourhood
expectations and engagement with new cycling infrastructure in Sydney, Australia: findings from
a mixed method before-and-after study. Journal of Transport & Health, 3(1), pp.48-60.
Eltis.org, 2017. Promoting traffic safety and cycling through urban design in Houten
(Netherlands) | Eltis. [online] Eltis.org. Available at: <http://www.eltis.org/discover/case-
studies/promoting-traffic-safety-and-cycling-through-urban-design-houten-netherlands>
[Accessed 26 Aug. 2017].
Harringtongrove.com.au, 2017. Location | Harrington Grove. [online] Harringtongrove.com.au.
Available at: <http://www.harringtongrove.com.au/harrington-grove-nsw-location> [Accessed
26 Aug. 2017].
Harringtongrove.com.au, 2017. Proposed rail corridor and Harrington Grove. [online]
Harringtongrove.com.au. Available at:
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<http://www.harringtongrove.com.au/news/entry/proposed-rail-corridor-and-harrington-grove>
[Accessed 26 Aug. 2017].
Hatfield, J. and Boufous, S., 2016. The effect of non-recreational transport cycling on use of
other transport modes: A cross-sectional on-line survey. Transportation Research Part A: Policy
and Practice, 92, pp.220-231.
Howden-Chapman, P., Keall, M.D., Conlon, F. and Chapman, R., 2015. Urban interventions:
understanding health co-benefits. Urban Design and Planning.
Itdp.org, 2017. [online] Available at: <https://www.itdp.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/22.-
092211_ITDP_NED_Desktop_Houten.pdf> [Accessed 26 Aug. 2017].
Kenna, T., Goodman, R. and Stevenson, D., 2017. Privatising the suburbs: examining the trends
and implications of 20 years of private residential development in Sydney,
Australia. Geographical Research.
Krizek, K., 2017. Houten (Holland): Heaven or Hollow?. [online] streets.mn. Available at:
<https://streets.mn/2014/08/07/houten-holland-heaven-or-hollow/> [Accessed 26 Aug. 2017].
Mulley, C. and Tsai, C.H.P., 2016. When and how much does new transport infrastructure add to
property values? Evidence from the bus rapid transit system in Sydney, Australia. Transport
Policy, 51, pp.15-23.
Redman, L., Friman, M., Gärling, T. and Hartig, T., 2013. Quality attributes of public transport
that attract car users: A research review. Transport Policy, 25, pp.119-127.
Vergnes, A., Kerbiriou, C. and Clergeau, P., 2013. Ecological corridors also operate in an urban
matrix: a test case with garden shrews. Urban ecosystems, 16(3), pp.511-525.
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