Reducing the number of cars in Europe: Effects on quality of urban life

Abstract: The transportation sector is the biggest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions, as well as air and noise pollution in urban areas. City planners and policy makers increasingly recognize the importance of changes in transportation systems that would decrease the use of private motor vehicles and promote more sustainable modes of transport, such as public transport, cycling and walking. While public policies recognize the effects that such changes can have on the urban environment and physical health of city dwellers, it rarely considers the overall quality of urban life (QOUL), which includes subjective indicators such as satisfaction with living conditions and mental wellbeing. Lack of a universal definition of QOUL and its relationship with urban planning and transportation planning in particular further complicate our understanding of the ways in which implementation of new transportation policies affects quality of life of city residents. This study examines the meaning of QOUL in relation to urban transportation planning and policies that aim to make transportation in cities more sustainable and friendly to the environment. It analyzes definitions of QOUL in the context of urban planning and investigates the effects that new policies can have on QOUL indicators.