Sustainable Transportation for all: An Analysis of Non-Motorized Transport

Abstract

As modern urban planners look towards sustainable solutions to combat the effects of climate change, one sector of particular interest has been transportation. Sustainable Transportation seeks to shift away from the automobile dependent habits of the past century, towards transportations options that mitigate the affects of climate change, enhance mobility, and promote equity. One of the key aspects of Sustainable Transportation, Non-Motorized Transport (NMT), has been of particular interest to many cities and planners as of late. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of Non-Motorized Transport, the benefits, challenges, and opportunities of this form of Sustainable Transportation. Three groups of policy strategies for planners to utilize to encourage Non-Motorized Transport are identified. Land use changes encompass long-range transformations to the built environment to increase walkability and cyclability. Infrastructure improvements include various facilities for pedestrians and cyclists to navigate safely and efficiently, and regulatory measures provide legal incentives for non-motorized travel and disincentives to automobile use. Examples of Washington D.C. and Paris, France are articulated for their utilization of these strategies to promote Non-Motorized Transport in their respective contexts. Lastly, the analysis is used to speculate possible recommendations for the city of Seattle, and how planners might encourage more non-motorized means of transportation within the city.