The learning process of accessibility instrument developers

Scant knowledge of land use and transport integrated (LUTI) planning support tools such as accessibility instruments (AIs) for developing joint strategies and the implementation gap of such planning instruments are considered the main barriers for integrated spatial and mobility planning (te Brömmelstroet & Bertolini, 2008). Against this background, the research discussed in this chapter aims to ascertain whether, how, and to what extent barriers to land use and transport planning integration can be overcome through a learning process that involves practitioners and researchers from different domains. The study was conducted during the COST Action TU1002, analyzing the outcomes of joint work developed by researchers with different backgrounds (transport and land use planning) actively participating in the research. During the project 15 structured workshops were organized in different local contexts. Here AIs were applied as a platform for discussion around a given planning problem, and for defining integrated land use and transport planning solutions. The workshops involved groups of selected practitioners from academia, consultancy companies and public administrations with different expertise (transport, spatial planning, and geography). Before and after the workshop, two surveys explored the AI developers’ views on accessibility concepts, accessibility instruments and the way they are used. The main results account for changed understanding and attitudes toward AIs due to new insights gained from implementing AIs in a concrete case study and from interaction with other colleagues and with practitioners. The results also discuss the impacts that the implementation of AIs in the workshop had on practitioners in terms of how accessibility concepts were received and could be used in practice.