Sustainable urban transport planning and the commuting patterns of poor workers in a historic inner city in Guangzhou, China

Sustainable urban transport planning is intended to ensure balanced access to travel needs among social groups without comprising the ability of future generations to meet their own such needs. A study was conducted in the historic inner city of Xiguan, in Guangzhou, to illustrate this planning concept. Access to employment was defined as the function of development variables in the process of urbanization in Guangzhou. A survey indicated that the high population density and clustered land-use arrangements in Xiguan resulted in short average travel times for the respondents, with public transport being the dominant mode for work trips. The local respondents' access was influenced by the lack of affordable housing, which prohibited them from living close to their places of employment. The female respondents earned lower wages, traveled shorter distances and took slower modes of transport than did their male counterparts. The migrant respondents lived close to their places of employment as a result of weak social networks and a lack of social welfare.

► Sustainable urban transport planning is introduced in Xiguan, Guangzhou.
► The high population density resulted in short average travel times for the respondents.
► The local respondents' access was influenced by the lack of affordable housing.
► The female respondents traveled shorter distances than did their male counterparts.
► The migrant respondents lived close to their places of employment.