Erik Smithson
March 2nd Year
About me: I am an avid designer who is currently finishing my last year of M.arch. I enjoy soccer (football), the ocean and discovering things. Generator: The name of the blog is its intention. I want to use this blog as a place filled with useful information to generate ideas.

Questions? Or just want to chat? Contact him on z3158835@student.unsw.edu.au

Check out the Then & Now Gallery

Interesting how the connection between people and the street has changed over time.

The early days technology afforded slower moving transport - old cars, horse & cart, trams. The city was small enough to do most traveling by foot, aided by trams. The 'walking city' allowed movement to become free and uninhibited by roads.



The introduction of both train and automobile caused the birth of the 'commuter city'. This city is the sprawled Sydney that encloses the historic, smaller inner-city. The roads are now only for cars and pedestrians are now limited to footpaths. Arcades and thoroughfares through buildings connect roads with pedestrian walkways, exposed to retail shopping environments. It is encouraged by the City of Sydney council that high-rise development can gain extra FSR by providing its ground floor with public space for walking. This is a good adaptation to a city divided by gridded barriers.

Limiting the 'Commuter City'

Lets compare Sydney to Singapore.

Singapore is 710km² with 4,839,400 people and density of 6,814people/km².

Sydney is 12144km² with 4,336,374 people and density of 2058/km².

Just look at the difference in density and area. The distance to commute to the inner-city areas is far larger on Sydney and the transportation system needs to move large amounts of people over large distances. Singapore, requires large amounts of people over smaller distances. Their MRT train system as well as the public bus transportation system is relied upon by the majority of commuters (about 4.2mill daily uses). Private vehicle ownership is heavily taxed and quotas are imposed on vehicle purchase. Then there are the high tolls imposed on private vehicles who wish to drive into Central Area during high traffic times.
Such measures in a city like Sydney, like tolls into the inner city have been put into practice. But taxing private cars is not an option with a city of such land mass. Thus the real question is: how can public transport be effective enough to turn commuters away from private vehicle usage whose roads, motorways has clearly fragmented the inner city?

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