Citation

Buchanan N, Barnett R, Kingham S, Johnston D. J. Transp. Geogr. 2006; 14(5): 342-354.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2005.10.008

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The rising demand for residential development in the urban fringe of Christchurch, New Zealand, has led to an increase in car use and lengthening journeys, both of which have serious environmental implications. In light of this, the relationship between urban form and transport was investigated in Christchurch through the analysis of journey to work data from 1991 and 2001. Low density suburban areas were found to generate and receive the highest percentages of car trips in both 1991 and 2001. It was also found that the majority of work-trips involved suburb-to-suburb commuting, rather than to the centre of the city. Average trip length did not increase substantially over this period, although increases were apparent in separate modes. Multivariate regression analysis established that the key variable determining modal split and trip length was the distance the residence was located from the central business district. Results were similar when compared to larger cities elsewhere.