Urban Form and Travel Patterns by Commuters: Comparative Case Study of Wuhan and Xi’an, China

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between monocentric and polycentric urban forms and commuting patterns in Chinese cities with dense populations and rapid motorization and urbanization, with Wuhan (three subcenters separated by rivers since the city’s formation) and Xi’an (a monocentric city) as case cities. The analysis uses statistical methods and logit models based on 1,194 and 1,501 surveyed households in Wuhan and Xi’an, respectively. Compared with Xi’an and other polycentric cities, Wuhan has shorter commuting distances in the outer areas (3.9 km), smaller car mode share (16.6%), larger nonmotorized mode share (36.8%), more commutes inside the subcenters (91.3%), more public transit use when commuting among the subcenters (67.3%), and less commuting CO2 emissions. The reason lies in its polycentric structure with strong industries in the subcenters and the limited number of and capacity for traffic corridors among the subcenters. These findings can inform sustainable transportation developments in Chinese cities and city cluster areas and can provide empirical evidence and reference values for other global cities.