Now we'll look at expanding the eco-town proposal into larger
eco-towns and eco-cities.
Larger Eco-towns
Eco-town for 35,000:
This town is 1,800 metres across and needs 9 centres to keep local shopping within a 5 minute walk.
But at 12 minutes, the walk to the town centre is already starting to
become
excessive. Any bigger and the bicycle would have to become the
main mode of transportation.
Linked Eco-towns
Instead then, we'll build larger eco-towns by linking small eco-towns
together with public transport.
Eco-town for 48,000:
Eco-cities
Link 5 of these eco-towns together and we have an eco-city.
Eco-city for 120,000:
Each of the small towns should be unique in its own way.
Some may be smaller than 1,500 metres across, others might be larger.
Towns nearer the centre would most likely be built to a higher density
than those further away. And, of course, no one says they have to
be perfectly circular.
Eco-city for 300,000:
The aim throughout, though, should still be to minimise transport
use. Yes, residents can catch a bus or tram to
the city centre. But they shouldn't have to. At least not on
a daily basis. Each individual town should aim to be as
self-sufficient as possible.
Eco-city for 880,000:
Public Transport
The town centres would be linked by trolleybuses or
trams.
Electrically powered from overhead lines, both
trolleybuses and trams are non-polluting and quiet, and so both mix well
with pedestrian areas.
Running every few minutes, never getting stuck in traffic or having
to wait at traffic lights, and with no onboard payment to delay them at
stops, they would provide an excellent service around the eco-town or
city.
