A master thesis from Aalborg University
Context-Sensitive Transit-Oriented Development 2 as a Concept for Sustainable Mobility Transitions
Author(s)
Term
4. Term
Publication year
2025
Submitted on
2025-05-27
Pages
37 pages
Abstract
Urbanisation and the historical car-centric planning have contributed to global urban challenges such as CO2 emissions, air and noise pollution and traffic congestion. In response, urban planning discourse has increasingly embraced sustainable mobility paradigms that prioritise sustainable modes of transport. This paper explores how to apply Transit-Oriented Development 2 (TOD2), as an expanded, human-scale version of the traditional TOD framework, in the means of a context-sensitive planning strategy to promote a modal shift away from private car use while ensuring equal accessibility across diverse urban environments. Using Aarhus Municipality as a situated case study, the research investigates how the TOD2 concept can be translated into adaptable interventions within both high- and low-density contexts. Grounded Theory and ethnographic fieldwork form the methodological basis for developing a grounded conceptual framework, which integrates relational analyses of human and non-human elements having impact on mobility behaviour. Furthermore, the article introduces a typological tool for interpreting Mobility Hub characteristics, challenges, and development potential, enhancing the operationalisation of TOD2 across varying spatial scales. The findings underscore that sustainable urban mobility requires a planning logic that is both adaptable and locally informed. Requiring a framework that recognises the complexity of place, supports modal shift, and enables equal access to sustainable mobility options. The proposed framework aims to guide planners in integrating urban identity, infrastructure, and socio-cultural dynamics to strengthen the transition toward carbon-neutral and inclusive cities.
Keywords
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