Mobility, Equity and Sustainability Today in Tirana

  • Dorina Pojani Department of Architecture, Epoka University, Tirana
Keywords: Tirana, transporti, Albania, disuguaglianze,

Abstract

This article discusses the development of transport inequalities in Tirana during its rapid population and economic growth since the fall of communism in 1990. The first part provides background on the development of Tirana and its urban travel systems, in an effort to take a step towards filling the research void on this city. Tirana’s case is particularly interesting because during communism private car ownership was prohibited and there were virtually no cars on the streets. Subsequently, when the population acquired wealth and personal freedom, the city grew substantially in all directions and was invaded by car traffic. The second part of this article analyses the findings of recent transportation surveys, conducted by this author, with a focus on the transport disadvantage that women, children, the poor, the elderly, and the handicapped experience. This discussion is preceded by a brief review of studies reflecting the emergence of concerns about transport inequality issues in other European nations during the past few decades. The article concludes with policy recommendations based on public opinions on transport issues, collected through the author’s surveys.

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Author Biography

Dorina Pojani, Department of Architecture, Epoka University, Tirana

She is Assistant Professor of Urban Planning at Epoka University in Tirana, Albania. She has completed graduate studies in the USA, Albania, and Belgium, and has several years of work experience in urban and transportation planning in California, USA. Her articles on urban planning have been published in England, Italy, USA, and Albania. She has co-edited the book “Urban Planning in Market Economy” published in 2004 in Tirana. Her forthcoming book is titled: "TRAFFIC! Automobile Domination in Tirana (and how to reverse it)".

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Published
2011-07-28
How to Cite
PojaniD. (2011). Mobility, Equity and Sustainability Today in Tirana. TeMA - Journal of Land Use, Mobility and Environment, 4(2). https://doi.org/10.6092/1970-9870/248
Section
Contributions