TRAVEL BEHAVIOR IN PLANNED MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENTS: CASE STUDY IN UBERLÂNDIA-MG, BRAZIL

Abstract

Extensive literature points out that the development of Brazilian cities from the 20th century onwards led to increased car dependence and a consequent worsening of urban mobility. Among the proposals emerging from the criticism of this phenomenon, mixed-use developments (MUD) stand out, which intended to reduce motorized travel by combining mixed use land with a pedestrian-friendly design. The study seeks to understand whether such developments can promote a widespread reduction in distances traveled. To this end, a case study was conducted to evaluate residents' travel behavior before and after moving to an MUD. Qualitative and quantitative methods data were processed in GIS software to compare the distances covered in the previous and current scenarios. Findings showed a general increase in the distances traveled after moving to the MUD, contradicting the concept of "living and working in the same neighborhood" as promised by the developers. This study shows that the relationship between land use and travel behavior is complex and cannot be simplified as proposed by the advertising of such MUDs.