Spatial and Social Characteristics of Urban Transportation in Beijing

Abstract

This paper aims to improve knowledge of urban transportation in China by analyzing the spatial characteristics of urban transportation in Beijing, China's capital. Neighborhood-level indicators—such as automobile ownership per household, commuting time, commuting mode percentages, and household income—were all extracted from a household survey conducted in 2006. Urban transportation was then analyzed spatially with a reference to Beijing's geometric center, job centers, and urban rail stations. The analysis led to several findings. First, the variation in commuting time by gender and household composition was similar to what has been observed in American cities. Second, automobile ownership and commuting modes exhibited no systematic, spatial variation, unlike their American counterparts. These differences might be explained by a third finding: in China, relatively high-income households preferred centrally located housing.

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