Mobility versus densification

Make way for car traffic! That was the credo in post-war decades when the city was rebuilt and expanded. For a long time this Holy Cow was literally and figuratively the symbol of prosperity and progress, but now the car is increasingly an obstacle to urban development and takes a heavy toll on the public space and quality of life in the city. More and more cities are choosing other forms of transportation. Mobility is a tool and not the goal. Arnhem is lagging behind, but if we want to densify the city, we have to think about alternative and more sustainable forms of transport. We discussed this on 27 September.

Urban planner Marco Broekman gives an introduction to the Utrecht new-build district of Merwede, the Netherlands’ first car-free city district as a driving force for the discussion! Other guests were Nermina Kundic, Arnhem’s new alderman for mobility, Marian van Hooij, director of Platform Binnenstad Arnhem and urban planner Annemieke Molster, author of the book Loop! Ten Design Principles for a Walking-Friendly Environment.